> A New Embrace
>  by SaiyanUltima
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia sits on her throne with a mysterious scroll hidden under her left wing and a smile growing as the clock reaches the end of her shift as Princess of The Sun. She waits for the nobles to take their leave by tapping on the pillow of her chair with impatient aptitude for the scroll to be unsealed and read. The sun was to be set within the hour, but that was not her sole focus for today. No. The scroll was her sole focus. Her only meaning to smile so brightly and feel an emotion that has not touched her heart since the day she returned to Equestria to see her little sister stripped of the darkness that took her mind.

The scroll had a waxed seal on it. Said seal was not Equestrian, but rather from a different symbol that is not of her world. It was the letter 'M', and Celestia knew from that symbol that it has been an entire week since she secretly messaged her other-worldly friend.

You see, when Celestia was temporarily banished to her sun by the Mare in The Moon, her corrupted sister, Princess Luna—Also known as Nightmare Moon—the magic that should have shackled her actually sent her across the stars and into a rift that no longer exists. She wound up in the humble abode of a creature that saved her from a pack of werewolves, and things from then on became a quick development of friendship.

The hours of worrying and hectic terror became calming and rather fun for the princess. Her mystery of being in such a world turned to amusement and fun, and her new friend became something more than a friend as they shared tea and a few slices of cake. Unfortunately, the cakes were devoured by her, and she knew that her time on this world was to a close. Still, the alicorn shared many things with this stranger and found herself sharing similar feelings that could not be spoken of. 

In the end, they exchanged confessions of being attracted to one another and promised to write to one another. It was the only thing Celestia could do to stay in contact with him, and she's done so wholeheartedly with the man, so that one day she will soon have the power to bring him to her world, or to find a way to see him.

Who is this mysterious writer you ask? Honestly, Celestia is not quite sure of him as well. She merely knows that he stole her heart with his lack of formality. He treated her like a pony and not like a princess or a goddess that is to be revered by all. He shook her hoof instead of bowing. He gave her a hug instead of lecturing about how she needs to stay strong. He treated her like a normal pony and gave her friendship that cannot be found in the eyes of her little ponies.

Celestia has him as a true friend, but she wants more than that from him. And by the gods she was going to get that chance no matter how many spells it would take to get him here or her there. But for now, she was going to enjoy the indirect company he gives her with his reply, and she was going to enjoy every word, as though it were to be the last letter between them.

A small frown curls her muzzle, nobles noticing the negativity when looking back one last time. "Hurry up and close the doors," she whispered very aggressively, her hoof tapping so rapidly that it dents her chair. She was frustrated—or perhaps she was just very impatient. "I have better things to do than listen anymore of your selfish squabbling."

The guard standing closest to her throne winced under the shadow of his helmet, hearing the princess grow more impatient by the minute. Did she hear herself at all? She sounded like a spoiled filly that gets anything she wants. She sounded like a dictator that's lost her patience. Still she could not help how she sounded right now. It should have been a gentle request, not a command under her breath. She was not that kind of princess anymore, but that scroll in her wing was driving her up the wall. She wants—No, she needs to read it. She misses him. She misses having those strong arms hug her so nicely without. She misses hearing his soft and loving voice.

She misses him, and being in that chair did not help her overcome those few minutes left in her shift.

Even the guards were afraid to speak to the alicorn. Her word was equivalent to law. More, she was annoyed of having no understanding as to why the nobles thought it was so necessary to have her undivided attention at all times. Did they forget that their presence in the castle is merely a privilege, and that she tolerates their bickering?

It made no sense to Princess Celestia and until it did, until she could figure out why it was so important to have selfish nobles in her kingdom, she wasn't going to rock the boat; at least not now.

Finally the doors closed and the guards relieved themselves of being guards of the Sun Deity. There was a brief silence—an uncomfortable one—as if their princess just experienced something more dreadful than losing her sister a thousand years ago. This, however, was no form of dread, sorrow, or anything of the sort. It was silent happiness. 

Celestia's heart stuttered at the ringing of six o'clock bell and she stood, leaped, unable to contain her joy at this point. She had been aware of the guards in her throne room whispering to one another when she became loose and free to be happy. She was very aware of it, of the many eyes locked onto her, of the small gathering they made when she left her chair, but now her complete concentration was on the scroll beneath her wing.

She willed herself to return to some formal demeanor in spite of the overbearing, officious manner her guards show. She actually counted the seconds, waiting for her co-ruler to enter the room and take over for the night. Had she been so indulged with her own emotions, the Throne Room would be without a princess right now. But, alas, she knew that a house needs a parent present for the time being, and her kingdom needs her until the Lunar Deity arrives. Few words could be said once she regained her composure.

Darn it, Luna. Must you take your time with prepping yourself? Her joy altered to annoyance in the form of a loud snort. This made the guards grimace as she sighed into the open air before hanging her head low. You come in, take my spot for the entire night, and deal with the nobles that stay up to whine and gripe for more money, power, or land. That is all, and yet you take forever to arrive.



"Um, Princess Celestia, are you feeling alright?" A lower ranked guard asked from a distance, his fellow guards gesturing with their hooves for him to approach the mare—that is if she will not take her angst out on him. "You seem very stressed over something. Is it anything we, guards, can solve for you?"

"No, it is something only I can deal with," Celestia murmured, setting the scroll deeper into her wings, hiding it so not even the eyes of her younger sister can see the truth to her joy. It was going on 6:10 and her little sister had yet to show the smallest indication of her arrival. She did not even see servant in evidence of delivering a message and supposed Luna was procrastinating with her duties.

"Luna," Celestia hissed, tail flicking with much frustration behind her tone. "Where in the name of our mother are you? I want to read my letter from him and reply before bed."

Celestia scowled at the doors which lead to Luna's room as the guards for the Night Shift entered in a dutiable fashion. Both of the captains for each shift shook hooves and said a few words before switching roles, their attitudes shifting swiftly as the alabaster alicorn began to pace from column to column.

The sun was almost ready to set, and still there was no sigh of the Lunar Princess. Another glance at the clock showed it was fifteen after six. Finally, the Solar Princess huffed loudly and threw caution of a kingdom with no princess at the moment into the wind for her own sake. She'd been in the Throne Room long enough, exhausted by the nobles for their greed, and deserved the chance to at least read her letter. Immortal or not, it had been twelve hours and she needed a break. Twelve hours in a chair that is losing its softness will drive anyone mad, and she was not going to spend another minute in that darn thing.

It was a long time for her to be in the same spot, the same room that traps her, and this letter is all she has to be free in some small manner. He is her freedom, her means to a social life that is without formality. And most of all, he is the one that keeps her sane enough to deal with so many problems.

"Buck it," Celestia whispered to the clock, magic swiftly flowing into her horn as the scroll unrolled from crumbling in her wing. "I'm going to my room and read the letter. It's all I have to contact him before gaining enough runes to open a rift."

Glowing in the majestic aura of her majestic, Celestia disappeared from the Throne Room in a flash of bright yellow and reappeared in her room. She stood at the door and tossed her crown and regalia to the desk with quick levitation, almost as if she were annoyed to have trinkets on her. She was even actually shaking her body to loosen up and remove the flat spot on her mane as she slipped out of her gold slippers.

Her body complimented itself with magnificent curves of a real mare that has yet to be touched by a stallion. Strong and fit—for an older mare that is—yet so radiant and lean. Her flanks were definitely big, but they were firm and plump, so plump that a stallion would kill to touch them.

While the princess had her freedom, she carefully flattened the crumbled parchment and then occupied the large, purple pillow that is her reading spot. She smiled when her legs no longer held her up. They were sore and achy. The long hours of being a monarch had done her good, but now she was free and needed to read her letter.

Until...

"Well aren't you an excited filly," a male voice said behind the princess, his long drawl alarming the mare as the room became eerie with familiar magic. "I have not seen you this excited since the day you became a princess."

Celestia knew all too well to let herself be confused or curious by who she is hearing behind her. That voice could never be forgotten. Never in a million years and certainly not in this eternity of hers. He has too much of a reputation in mischief to be forgotten by the one that imprisoned him the first time they fought.

She craned her neck and peered to the owner of said voice, but stopped when laughter came next. If she looked behind herself there would be a prank or trouble of some sort waiting to get her. She knew better than that. Her room would be violated with something or some part of her body would be covered in cotton candy or whatever. If I turn around and talk him, something will happen and I will be infuriated while he makes his great escape. She took in a deep breath and resumed the matter at hoof, ignoring the spirit's rude notion of poking her flank. Just ignore him and read the letter, Celestia. Eventually he will get bored and leave the room.

"Hey, Celestia," the annoying spirit said, repeating the words with each poke he made to her cutie mark. Celestia could ignore it and tune him out any day of the week, but this was getting out of hoof and she had so little time to rest before collecting another rune from the vault for her task. "Hey, Celestia. Hey, Celestia. Hey, Celestia."

Focus on the letter.

"Hey, Celestia."

Focus and he will..."

"Hey...Celestia."

"WHAT!?" Celestia could not hold back her frustration any longer. From being in court all day to having a little sister that takes her sweet time getting ready, it was bound to happen sooner or later. The princess was bound to unleash her intensity, but must it be from the one who annoys her so much?

"What is it, Discord?" she asked very rudely—not that it wavered the smile he wore. "What could you possibly have to say after having all day to fetch for me yet decide to wait when I am comfortable and off duty?"

Discord walked past her to the fireplace closed in by the stainless steel guard and tempered glass. To his own amusement of annoying the Princess of Day, he held a silent demeanor with a score of devious thoughts running through his head, each artfully crafted for pranking, some large, some small, all devised and fashioned in different proportions. He snapped his talon, and with that sound came the chaotic appearance of a chocolate shake inside a vase from the dining hall.

He said, "Nothing like a shake to perk me up before having a little fun with my favorite friend. The day has been rather boring since Fluttershy left for Manehattan to help with some homeless critters." He paused for a moment, sipping on his shake as the princess held her letter in the open. "Besides, I have some information that might be of great importance to you."

"If it involves changing anything or is merely a joke, then keep me out of it." Celestia said scathingly, teeth barring while the Draconequus tittered his thoughts.

"Celestia, let me ask you a question." At those words, Celestia dropped the hateful glare and perked her ears for what he has to ask. She knew Discord for all of who he is as an immortal like her. A monarch yet a child by heart. And yet, somehow, he had a way of showing maturity in his words. It was not like him to speak so clearly, nor respectfully at all. If anything, Discord would do his very best to disrespect the princess in a playful manner, and he would do it just to see where things would go.

But now...

Celestia cocked an eyebrow at the Spirit of Chaos. "What do you have to ask me?" 

There was a brief silence between the two, one that made the alicorn slightly nervous. Discord continued to stare at the fire, his eyes burning with the recent memory of his current actions towards some very infamous villains. "Do you think that everyone deserves a second chance? That even the most vile and cruel monsters in this world deserve one more chance to do what is right?"

Celestia never thought of that; at least not for those that are too cruel to have a second chance. She was so used to giving those who did so little in crime a second chance that she hadn't considered that it took a little more compassion and understanding to do so even to the ones her wronged her so much.

She didn't answer the Draconequus. She was tired and in desperate need to read the letter of her true friend. Discord, however, would never let her remain silent. She closed her eyes, sighed deeply, and willed herself to find an answer that would be suffice. It wasn't a perfect answer she was concerned finding. It was having a moment to reply to him. Clearly, it she did not send a letter back to him very soon, even should she be able to explain her delay, eventually their friendship would begin to harden and remain where it is in their long-distance relationship. She had to write back soon. She had to let him know that her feelings for him were just as strong as they were in the beginning.

"I suppose everypony deserves a second chance," she said tiredly. "But that is not for me to decide; it is up to those who wish to redeem themselves."

Discord chuckled to the fire. Said chuckle tore away the awkwardness between them and created a different kind of atmosphere. At least he was calm and collected, at the moment. He could feel his recent actions take their toll in the distant travel he secretly started, something he knew would infuriate the alicorn. He could almost hear the screams of the villains he wronged for the better good.

Celestia followed the odd silence. She hadn't realized how truly shaken Discord was after making a mistake that would affect the lives of three villains and, no matter what could be done to help them, that a certain person in Celestia's heart would be forced to do such a task.

There was little the Spirit of Chaos could do about making this mistake that binds the princess and her friend so tightly in fate. He had barely allowed himself to acknowledge those piercing screams in his head. It tore through him in a way that felt the opposite of good, something he felt when he betrayed his friends for a little fun with a certain Centaur.

"I've made a terrible mistake on my own behalf," Discord began, his words ensnaring Celestia's undivided attention as the letter in her grasp reflected in the mirror across him. "I do hope that you will forgive for what I have done, Celestia. I know that some boundaries are not meant to be pushed, but I allowed myself to be indulged."

Celestia raised herself instantly. She approached the somber Draconequus and caught a shoulder with her wing, observing carefully as the flames began to wither in contact of the chill that grew from his magic.

"Discord, did you harm or kill one of my little ponies?" Celestia asked calmly. Her eyes, however said differently, almost dangerously with concern glowing in them. 

Discord waved a paw at the princess and shook his head. "Nothing of the sort, my dear. I have simply altered the lives of certain creatures we all thought to no longer exist."

Celestia sighed at the fire, rubbing her head of the mild headache, but she turned abruptly and forced herself to listen. "What have you done this time, Discord?"

"Just something that might affect you and a certain human you've been writing to for the last couple of years." Discord answered, his words causing the princess to recoil.

Celestia lifted herself instantly and approached the Sprit of Chaos with haste. She leaned close and caught his shoulder with a wing, worrying as the flames withered in contact of the magic he released. It began to grow dark in the alicorn's bedroom, splinters of burnt wood being the only light between the two.

"Did you harm or kill one of my little ponies?" Celestia asked again, although the glow in her eyes said differently as to what she is feeling. "And how did you know about him?"

Discord raised his bear paw at her and waved it fluidly. "Nothing of the sort, my dear," he answered. "I have simply made things a little interesting for your friend."

His tone had gone thoughtful. Celestia's magic betrayed her when fear came into her heart, and she found herself looking to the floor as the scroll fell between them. Discord's rugged features were expressionless, but his piercing eyes saw far too much in the guilt he created. His confession gave a jolt in the alicorn's chest as his talon glided down to the parchment, a fluid, easy move that was nearly impossible for the princess to follow; that is until she realized it.

Discord lifted the scroll to his eyes and took in a deep breath, something she found to be the most disturbing revelation of a wrong committed by the reformed immortal. The rough scratch of Discord's talon smoothed over the words in the letter, words mashing together as he read it. When he moved his tail over hers, adding warmth with his sorrow for the poor soul he wrong, terror sprang up as if the princess had been awoken by a terrible nightmare.

"I have been spying on you for quite some time now," the Spirit of Chaos confessed, building more fear in the princess as he finished reading her letter. "Ever since Fluttershy reformed me, I felt the urge to spy on you and see what it is that keeps you so alive and happy. And, well, your letters to this stranger have been what kept me so curious."

Celestia lowered her tone to a threatening growl. "If you hurt him in any way whatsoever, I swear to the heavens that no corner in the entire world will keep you from punishment. I care deeply about him."

"Hence why you have me helping you collect runes," Discord stated. He could not be anymore correct on that piece of information. "I suppose you want me to use my powers to open a rift that will bring him here or send you there, while having the runes to prevent any unsafe ripple in our universe."

Celestia grit her teeth, baring great anger, but she kept it in control and forced herself to stay calm and collected. "Yes, and I hope that he is unharmed at the moment. I have plans to bring him here and keep him part of my world, but only if you have not done something to him."

"Oh I am fairly certain that he is alright," Discord insinuated. "In fact, I am very certain that he is waking up to the knocking I did to his door before coming back to this world. He should be at his door right now and looking down to a box I left for him, with some reformed ponies shaking and crying inside said box."

Using the tip of her hoof, Celestia pulled his gaze aside the fireplace and to her. No trace of anger remained, knowing her human is alright. Frowning, she dug deep into this conversation. "Discord, what do you mean by reformed ponies? And what does this have to do with my one true friend?"

Discord tried a sheepish smile, exposing his mischief nature once more. "Oh I simply had a little fun with three ponies I found to be starving and dying in my last travel to the badlands," he paused for a moment as the alicorn's eyes dilated from worry. He tapped a claw to his chin and chuckled like a colt. "Sensing powerful magic is quite handy, but sensing those three monsters made it very interesting. I just could not help myself, not when your friend and your writing were the two things going through my head when I found them."

Shaken to her core, Celestia narrowed her gaze to him. "Discord, What. Did. You. Do?"

"Calm down, Sun Butt, your coltfriend is safe and sound." 

"He is not my coltfriend," Celestia blushed after saying that, but recovered to find herself in deep thought of such a thing. "He-he is a true friend and I care about him because we—"

"Have a special connection," Discord interrupted, his words aiming true, just as he wanted. Sadly, the princess turned beet red and ruffled her wings, unable to hide the truth. "Please, Celestia, I am too old to not see that you are falling for this guy, and that every letter you receive from him lifts your spirits. You are, clearly, falling for someone that does not exist in our world."

"Just tell me what you did," Celestia demanded. "I don't have time for your games and riddles, especially when you took it upon yourself to pay him a visit and drop off whoever or whatever at his doorstep."

"Oh don't be such an obsessed mare, Molly," he chuckled. "I simply gave him a little gift for keeping you some company. No need to thank me since those three hooligans needed a good life elsewhere."

"Discord, tell me now!"

"Oh Celestia, all I did is—"






***


Marcus Vegora pulled back his robe and pocketed the sash after it slipped from the loops, his hands firmly grasping his grandfather's Desert Eagle, which he keeps in the lockbox beneath his bed. The phrase engraved on the barrel as 'Angel's Carrying Steel: First Platoon, 1946'.

He walked silently across the living and used the light from his washing machine to see where the doorknob was, making certain he did not trip or make any sudden noise that could alarm the person knocking at his door. His heartbeat was so fast that he was afraid anyone could hear it beyond the door. Everything he was doing hinged on darkness and silence.

The brick house was two stories high yet well-kept in his standards. It looked as if someone recently rebuilt it with a more rustic touch of red paint and a brick path that stretches around the house to his pool patio. Heavy snow grew on his shingled room and fell at given points of wind gusting too hard, causing mounds to form around the curtained windows and doors. 

He came forward to meet whoever had knocked on the door within his closed-off garage, looking solemn as the gears in his mind spun wildly with fear greasing them. Unfortunately it was two o'clock in the morning and shadows of pitch blackness surrounded his well-guarded home, giving him a disadvantage to the stranger—or strangers—at his door.

No one should be at his door. Not even a small mouse should be found in there, because the foundation is set with steel wool in every inch of the walls. The garage is always closed and locked at night, so it says on the monitor built inside the wall to his left.

"How can someone be in my garage right now?" he said. His voice was kind, but behind the kindness was the expressionless resort to kill if needed.

He glanced to the monitor that was needing an update very soon and then tapped on the screen to filter the multiple cameras around his home, making certain his eyes were downcast to the door. He was very groggy yet very ready for someone to try and break insides—that is if they're able to break past the two inch thick, oak compressed door. He had taken care of finding the monitor hidden in the shadows to see who it was that broke into his garage, just in case the police need footage.

Marcus looked over his truck and found no one standing at the door, and then several times moved the monitor with the analog stick that is screwed into the wall. He observed every corner with disbelieving eyes, his mind unable to comprehend the intruder as a ghost or no one at all. There was not a soul to be seen. Not even a small, dead bug in a spider's web could be found. 

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the confusion. "I know I just heard someone knocking on the door." He choked back a cough, he was certain, of being more silent than death itself. "There is no way for someone to break in and leave with triggering one of the alarms."

The monitor stopped at the door on his command and studied it much closer. Marcus watched as the only viable evidence of an intruder in his garage moved in a large box that is covered with a thick blanket. It scooted and bounced a little, but it stopped and remained motionless. 

Marcus stared at the box and studied it, his gaze flat from annoyance. "You have to got to be shitting me?" There was skepticism in his whisper. "A cardboard with something inside of it."

Finally there was noise on the monitor, something that came to his ears after the screen fuzzed out for a second. Marcus was unrepentant at that point. There was amusement in his whisper. No matter how serious the situation, he could not resist in the least a chuckle for his intruder.

This is too funny. He managed to keep a straight face and gave the button at the bottom left of the screen a light push, turning on the lights in the garage. "Alright, I better see what's in the box and get this bullshit over with."

Okay, even to his ears, that sounded more logical than hiding in his house for the remainder of the night. If necessary he'd give the intruder an official welcome with a bullet to any spot comes into aim first. Right now, he was having too much fun listening to the multiple voices that were caught on his monitor. Two being female, but neither having maturity or age behind them. Rather than voices ringing in the speakers there were cries and whimpers, including a sniffle or two.

That is until one had the courage to speak.

"Where are we?" female youth said, unaware of the monitor recording every second as Marcus unlocked the door. "Is somepony out there?"

Sompeony, He questioned, safety off and gun ready. Only a pony says that word, but Celestia hasn't been here for almost two years.

He felt a little shocked by this. If he knew anything at all about a pony, he knew he would put on some kind of gentle smile. But this could not be right. Celestia did not make any plans of coming back or sending him a package. 

Marcus managed to get these thoughts out of his head before opening the door. He looked down at the box with a blank stare and nudged it with his big toe. What came next stunned him to his very soul and sent shivers of worry and curiosity down his spine. It took a lot of discipline for the man to regain his composure when his nudge resulted in the same voices that are heard on the matter. He did not doubt himself any longer when the voices inside turned into whimpers and short yelps.

What the hell is in this box? I know that Celestia said something about finding a way to visit me, but she never informed me of sending someone or something to me first. Is this some sort sick joke, or is she fucking with me right now?

He heaved a sigh and squatted to the box, his eyes locked onto the a blue eye that was peeking through a hole. Then came a gasp from the owner of the eye, causing the others to whimper pitifully when they had their turns.

"Is it going to eat us?" a female youth asked.

"I don't want to be eaten," a female youth pitched. "I'll bite it if it tries."

That was hitting very close to the urge of opening the box. Marcus was going to find out what is in that box, but first he needed to be sure that no one was about to attack him. Carefully, he took a couple of minutes to check every nook and cranny that can hide a man. He checked under his truck and behind the tool boxes, and, finally, the tool locker that is filled with yard equipment. When the coast was clear, Marcus gave a skeptic smile and placed the gun next to his foot, with the barrel facing the wall. Kneeling to the box, his hands removed the thick, brown blanket and went to work on the folds of the box. He was quick to open it and give the creatures some air until their faces gave him the most powerful jolt to his mind.

Inside the box was a basket sitting on a green blanket that looked very similar to fresh, green grass. Said basket was occupied with three foals of different species but similar age. The first was a frightened alicorn of charcoal fur and a dark purple mane that almost matches a cosmic shade of the stars. She was lying on her stomach and looked away from Joshua as he blinked in uncertainty. Her eyes were very familiar, so was her appearance, but it did not quite ring a bell.



Next to her was a black furred filly with silky, green hair and a jagged horn that is probably too big for her head. Some parts of her body had tiny holes, but most of them were on her hooves and seemed harmless. She sat on her haunches as the tall man leaned down to her eye level, meeting his curiosity with her own. 



"Are you going to eat us?" she asked out of the blue.

Marcus held his gaze at the filly, ignoring the buzzing that came from her paper thin wings. "Uh....no." he said awkwardly, causing the filly giggle into her hooves.

"You're funny looking," she laughed quietly. "Are you a furless Minotaur?"

"No, I'm a human. But who are you?"

"I'm..." the green haired filly paused for a moment. She could not think of her name for a few moments, which happened to be quite strange to the human. She should at least know her own name. Thankfully it came to her. "Oh yeah, I'm Chrysalis—" she pointed at the other two. "And this is my sister, Nightmare Moon. And that sleepyhead there is our little brother, Sombra. He's been sleeping ever since the funny looking dragon picked us up."

Marcus' eyebrow rose up dramatically. He faked a mature tone as he slowly turned to the colt next to Chrysalis. "Sombra...Funny looking dragon?" he said to himself.

There was no mistaking the colt in the basket. The purple aura seeping through his eyelids, the curved horn and grey fur; it was definitely the former Unicorn King of The Crystal Empire. And here he was, snoring through the entire conversation this 'Chrysalis' was having with him. His hooves were over his mouth, but there was no denying how loud his smooth snoring was.



Marcus gave him one last look and stood back up, his mind going elsewhere as the Changeling made an effort to comfort the purple mane alicorn. He waited until logic came to him to do anything in response of their presence. He took careful comprehension yet remained confused about their existence. 

How in the hell are they alive? And just who thought it was a good idea to make them young and send them to me? Funny Looking dragon is something Celestia would not be, and neither her sister. Whoever did this is a sick bastard, because I do not have the desire for these things to grow up again and kill me for fun.

"It's so cold," Nightmare Moon whimpered, her body shivering as the touch of winter caught up with them. "Where is the blanket that weird dragon with the dangling tooth gave us?"

Dangling tooth? he pressed his right hand to his chin and pondered deeply about the one who caused this. He was very suspicious, but he was not certain of who. Clearly there is a purpose for three villains to be young again and in his garage. Did someone in Equestria suspect it was best for them to be here? Celestia, maybe? If so, that didn't bode well for what he already planned to do. He needed to figure this out and be done with it, but how could he?

"It's really cold out here." Nightmare Moon whined, her adorable tone not helping Marcus decide what is best for himself.

He groaned and slapped his forehead with his palm, unable to deny that, no matter how villainous these three are—or were, he found it freaking adorable of them to be like this. "If this is some sort of prank by Celestia, I will never write to her again."

He sighed heavily as the cute groans of a certain unicorn touched him. Everything about this was incredibly awkward and even if he didn't want it, he needed to be kind and caring to them. He had no quarrel with villains of such a world, and he was not going to assume with fear that their crimes will be the same. They were brought here for a reason—a reason that has yet to come across his mind, and he was going to at least give them what no one else can give: A warm place to sleep and warm food if they are hungry.

Marcus had felt some sort of tingling in his chest when he leaned down to the foals and scooped the box into his hands. It was surprising how light they felt. Then again, each foal was barely twice the size of a puppy, and he lifts weights at least three times a week.

I'm gonna regret this in the morning. He turned around and made his way into the house, after picking up the gun. "Alright, lets get you inside and bundled up in front of the fireplace." he said solemnly—but neither filly knew of the tone he carried.

"Mister, what's your name?" Chrysalis asked.

"Marcus," the human answered.

Suddenly the Changeling gasped excitedly and rose to the edge of the large box, nuzzling the man's chest as her sister did the same at a much slower pace. 

"Daddy," Chrysalis said happily. "The funny looking dragon said our daddy's name is Marcus. You're our daddy!"

"Daddy?" Marcus ventured. That's when the light bulb came on, and all of the clues that lead to this 'funny looking dragon' led to the one being that can tear through the fabrics of space.

Angry, frustrated, annoyed, Marcus had only one name to say when it came to him. One name that always leads to mischief and chaos itself.

He grit his teeth while setting the box onto the couch, then said, "Discord, you son of a bitch!"

"That's the name," Chrysalis added. "Discord was the funny looking dragon. He said that you are our daddy and will take care of us."

Celestia, you better write back soon!

To Be Continued...
> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------






 A New Embrace
Author: SaiyanUltima
Published: 8/5/15





Chapter 1: A Big Favor





"You sent them to his house!?" Celestia exclaimed, throwing aside her sense of reason as the guards at her door shivered in fear. Knowing their princess, it was going to be a very long night. "Why in the name of my mother did you send three of the most dangerous criminals to his house!?"



Discord shrugged, with that uncanny smile to wear. "They're not dangerous anymore, and they have no memories of their crimes against Equestria. I simply gave them a second chance after seeing them so weak and helpless. You should have seen how pathetic Chrysalis was when I saw her sobbing over the disperse of her children."

Celestia did not don her calm demeanor right away but turned to the fireplace, just enough to keep her furious gaze from drilling a hole in the Draconequus' skull. Both of her wings went up and flared their glorious beauty, orange and yellow from her fire reflecting in the white of her feathers. She reached up to the heavens with a soft prayer and sighed, both physically and mentally. The letter fell to her right and slid in the grace of air carrying it, it corner revealing a side note that says...'I miss you'.

"I cannot have one day of normality in my life. No matter how hard I try to live a normal life without the crown on my head, something always gets in the way," Celestia whispered, regretting that she brought this upon herself and her long-distance friend.

She took a breath as if someone had exchanged air with her, and she was able to breathe calmly again. She nodded—seemed steady to herself—and then she went back to Discord, glaring at him much more softly for her own sake.

"If anything happens to him, anything that so much as scratches him, I will personally hold you responsible and invoke severe punishment that even you will not forget. This is one thing I cannot sweep under the rug so easily, not when somepony I care about is possibly at risk for danger."

Discord shook his head. "Oh Celestia, you hurt me with your lack of faith in my powers. You need to remember that I can turn countries upside-down with a snap of my talon." Was she serious? If she could not believe in his chaotic powers to have villains reformed, then why have him free to go as he pleases in a world that cannot handle another Discord attack—not that he would turn a third time anyway. "Seriously, give me some credit." He stayed on track so she knew he meant business. "I am the Spirit of Chaos for a very good reason."

"It's not about you having the power to erase memories and reform ponies. Believe me, I have complete faith in you doing such things. But, this is about you going behind my back and hoofing over three criminals— that need to be locked away—to someone I deeply care about. Discord, I have spent two years speaking to him through scrolls, doing my best to wait for the right moment in opening a rift. Now you risked everything, and Marcus may be furious with me right now."

Discord took a deep breath and the  collection of his thoughts that he had been waiting for slammed into him, robbing him of that nice sensation he gains after having a little fun with whoever he targets. He absorbed the blow and waited for his mind to accept what he had not thought through.

"I have done things your way for quite awhile now, Celestia, and I have done so with a smile. But I chose to do this, and I am certain that it is best for those defeated mongrels you call your enemies." Discord said softly, defiantly.

He sat down slowly on her bed and imagine the many things Celestia's friend would be dealing with by morning, just of his own amusement, and to lighten the atmosphere. It was easier than he thought it would be. No. It was better. He could practically see the human running all over his home to keep the three heathens in line while he sits back and watches. His mind needed a fresh replay of this somewhat-sinister act, but Celestia had given a darker look before he'd laughed at Marcus for possibly breaking down like a weak man.

He followed Celestia's glare down to her hoof tapping on the floor, clearly bemused and impatient. He regretted everything now. He just wanted to spice things up so that she may have ample opportunity to plan her little visit or retrieval of the unhappy man.

Discord smiled sheepishly and twiddled his talons with his claws, a shade of red growing. "Did I forget to mention that your sister is late to her duties because of me?"

Celestia's left eye twitched, as did her wings. "What. did. you. do?"

Discord swallowed hard the lump of nervousness in his throat, and then exaggerated he was pinching something with his talons. "I might have told a teensy bit to your little sister about you writing to this other-worldly creature. She might have been convinced to follow my magic trail to his house—when it was still fresh that is—and has left night court to Blueblood while she observes and tests your coltfriend."

"He is not my colt. . ." Celestia broke off, hit with dread and worry, the same she felt when Cadance told her Shining Armor asked her hoof in holy matrimony. Her eyes enlarged to the size of saucers, pupils dilated. "LUNA IS GOING TO BE AT HIS HOUSE!?"

"Probably by tomorrow morning, if she does not lose my magic trail." Discord rolled up the feathers around his around like it was a sleeve, checking what appeared to be a man-made watch that lost its tick. "Here, let me check the time and be sure ab—oh, blast it. The darn thing must have been fried in my return to Equestria."

"Where did you get that thing!?"

". . .From Marcus' closet."

"DISCORD, YOU. . .YOOOUUU—"

"Are forgiven?" Discord said nervously.

"NO, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TWILIGHT AND THE OTHERS OR I WILL BANISH YOU TO THE SUN MYSELF!"






***


Marcus gave Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon his most fierce yet calm look and shook his head. "So you have no idea how you got here or why you were brought here in the first place? Seriously, there must be something you can remember about coming here." He focused on the bubbly Changeling just for emphasis.

Chrysalis shook her head. "Nope, I only know that the weird dragon with one tooth told us that you are our daddy and you are going to take care of us."

Marcus now glared at the fillies, twitching with annoyance for the culprit dumping all of this at his front door.



"If Celestia knows about this, I am going to pray that she is not part of it but is punishing that asshole." he whispered to himself.

The living room ringed with pictures, some the two fillies were curious and others that seemed not interesting. Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon sat close on Marcus' couch while the still-sleeping Sombra snored under the blanket that was inside the box. He continued to hold a hoof to his mouth, almost suckling on it as a source of food.  The aura in his eyelids was striking, a strange, almost metallic purple, piercing through the man with impossibility of his demeanor so calming. He had not a single mark across his tiny form, not even a scratch. It was almost as if the Crystal Heart did not kill him, and that made Marcus very suspicious.

Marcus stepped backed to regain his complexion, clasping his own forearms. "Okay, lets go over this one last time, for my own sake," he said to himself. "I have three former villains in my house and no real answer as to how they got here. The best thing I can think of is that Discord had something to do with this—give or take how mischievous he can be."

Chrysalis felt the emotions running through the man like a strong current of water, something she easily sensed with her abilities. It made her lips wet and her stomach growl loudly. "I'm hungry." She smacked her lips with an almost ravenous hunger in her eyes, trying to keep herself at bay.

Marcus looked back in apprehension before turning around completely to see she was prowling on the couch like a powerful lion, waiting to strike at the perfect moment.

To Changeling's surprise, Marcus afforded her the same kindness her species does not receive from others, receiving a long scratch to her ear. "I don't suppose you eat regular food like normal...ponies," he said carefully, almost slipping out of tongue in formality of their kind. That was a close one. I almost gave away that I am very different from their culture. I better keep myself in check while they are here; don't want to confuse them with the differences of Earth and Equestria."

Chrysalis shook her head furiously. "I feed on the love of others through hugging, kisses to the cheek, or by biting to extract the love."

Marcus was in a bad predicament now. He never knew that Changelings had other methods to obtaining their nourishment from ponies. Other than being close to those who carry a great deal of love, perhaps true love, he was unaware of any other methods. Until now. 

He leaned away and found himself in the eyes of the green haired filly, biting his own lip to fight the fear as she readied to attack. She hissed playfully, her wings buzzing faster than a Hummingbird. She was only about five feet away from him, but the distance seemed to be meaningless to her. She would not let anything come between her and a good meal from her new father.

"I'm hungry, daddy." Chrysalis managed to leap at the man, not falling over from clumsiness. She startled Marcus with her sudden hiss to him. She concentrated on him with every fiber of her being. Only him. Her father.

Marcus understood that she needed food or her body would eat itself, so he was told by Celestia when she was here, but he did not want to have his body used as a food source. He had already dealt with enough problems of having the unreal become part of his reality when Celestia appeared in his fields. He had already made up his mind that he could do without anymore trouble unless it is sent with a warning. He smiled nervously and stepped back, throwing his arms out in front of him. He had no idea what he had to do in order for this foal to stop, and he certainly was not going to try and figure it out..

"Now listen here, kiddo, how about we talk about this and—"

"I want food, daddy!" Chrysalis leaped at the man and hinged on his left arm, her gaze clinging on to his as she sank her teeth into the palm of his hand.

Marcus knew he was done for, so he swallowed hard and nodded in defeat, waiting for the pain to come and take him. But, alas, he felt nothing when Chrysalis bit down on his palm. Waiting for his body to register the agony, Marcus cracked open an eye and saw her mouth dripping a clear substance that seeped into the bite as fast as she suckled. Blood was definitely coming out, but she would lick it up before his skin was stained. 

Confused and shocked, Marcus' eyes widened dramatically as he realized his attacked knocked him onto the floor. "What the hell is going on?" He leaned over to get a good look at the foal, ignoring the whimpers of Nightmare Moon and the feel of her hooves running up and down his other arm. Clearly she was a little concerned for his well-being, so says the sparkling in her eyes. "I. . .I'm not feeling any pain, not even a sting. I should feel excruciating pain right now; even this would feel like two knives drilled into my hand."

A giggle echoed into his ear. He felt Chrysalis nuzzling his palm after she had her quick fill of love and his eyes narrowed to her, cautiously. She sat in his lap, wings buzzing happily from her belly getting full, the feeling unlike anything she ever felt. Then again, it was the first time she had a full stomach.

"That was really good," Chrysalis chirped, before leaning back into his chest to nuzzle it. "Thank you. . .daddy."

The tone of her voice was enough to scorch his mind with embarrassment and worry that he had to look away, but not quick enough for both foals to see he was blushing. Once the two saw this they could not imagine why he was burning up.

"Papa, why are you red?" Nightmare Moon asked with genuine concern. She raised herself to her hind legs and pushed against his arm, reaching for his reddened cheek. "Are you feeling sick, or do you need to go potty?"

Marcus shook his head and forced himself to his feet, carrying Chrysalis to the couch while Nightmare Moon followed him. "Okay, you two need to get something straight," he said firmly, his tone uneasy as he placed the Changeling back on the couch. "First and foremost, I am not your daddy, nor your papa. I don't even know how you got here, not exactly. Plus I have never been with any pony or Changeling to have kids, and it is impossible because my kind cannot have foals."

A hush settled into the room. The happiness within Chrysalis became confusion and fear; the same with Nightmare Moon. She looked up to Marcus cautiously and scooted to the edge of the cushion, eyes dilating and wings drooping to the bottom of her stomach. Nightmare Moon sat on the floor and gasped. She looked afraid and heartbroken, there in the little bit of moonlight that beams into the window. Her lip quivered as she turned to Chrysalis for support.

"I'm sorry, but I am not your dad. I don't know who is your dad, and you certainly do not live here." 

Nightmare Moon wrapped her hooves around his leg and stared up to him, whimpers escaping as she held on for dear life. Marcus noticed her wings trembling as reality and life settled over the facts. He felt terrible for telling them this, truly, he did, but he knew it was a bad idea to have kids of his own.

"Why are you saying that, papa?" Nightmare Moon sniffled, tears dripping to the floor. "The weird dragon said you are our papa, that you want us to come back home from visiting Equestria."

"Visit?" he questioned.

"Did we do something wrong, daddy?" Next was Chrysalis, and she was not as quiet about it as her sister. She was in a full-blown sob and clenching his hand, denying in her head that he just said such mean things. "What did we do to make you say that?"

"Now hang on, I . . ." he broke off. His hand and leg were squeezed much harder and he was brought to emotions he never felt before. His conscience started yelling at him, as did his entire heart. 

"What did we do wrong to make you say that!?" Chrysalis sobbed, followed by Nightmare Moon crying into his leg. 

"Why do you hate us, papa!?"

"I don't hate you, I. . ." Marcus was unfortunately interrupted by a loud flash of light in front of him.

He shielded his eyes for a brief moment, and then looked down to see a scroll floating at chest level. He saw Celestia's insignia on the scroll and immediately grabbed it before the fillies could. Without giving himself the time to calm down and answer the foals, his hands unrolled the parchment and his eyes skimmed the fresh writing.

His heart skipped a few beats.

Marcus

My Dear Marcus, if you are reading this letter right now, I am so very sorry about those criminals being in your household and care. I know you must be angry and confused, but I promise you, on my own immortality, that I had nothing to do with what Discord has done. I am still astounded that Discord was able to reform Sombra, Chrysalis, and Nightmare Moon into foals that have no memories; not only that, I am extremely furious with him for doing this to you before my scheduled to visit you or have you come to Equestria.

I'm not sure which would happen, but I hope you can visit my world. The reason for that is I am collecting enough magic and ancient runes from across Equestria to open a controlled rift that will only be usable by you and I. Discord's shenanigan, however, may have changed and accelerated my plan.

With those criminals in your house, I am certain you are wondering why they are calling you their father. Believe me, the information Discord gave me is absolutely stupendous, and I am a goddess that's lived since the beginning of Equestria.

Forgive me, I'm losing track of myself. Here is the truth from Discord, and bear with it, because I am going to ask you a big favor.

As you are aware, Discord reformed those monsters into foals and destroyed their memories with forbidden magic. Anything they remember is actually fake memories he made to help them adjust, and it just so happens that he manipulated their minds to make them believe you are their father.

Before you ask, yes, Discord knows of us keeping in contact. He's been spying on me ever since he was reformed by Fluttershy. He knows about you and has done something I hope will not end badly.

He told Luna about you, and she is following his magic trail to your world. Assuming the best of her abilities, Luna will be at your home to observe and test you sometime in the morning or afternoon. Now if she does arrive, please refrain from any aggressive action towards her. I know it is your home, but please show excellent hospitality to her.

Also, I need you to be their father. Yes, that is a tall request of me, but this may be the only way to keep things calm until I arrive with the other princesses and the element wielders. 

This is for our own sake and your protection. If I am correct about Discord's magic failing to completely reform them, we will at least have Twilight and friends use their Rainbow Magic to stop them. But, knowing how powerful Discord can be, I highly doubt that it will be necessary.

That is all for now. I must return to scolding Discord and preparing the spell before he arrives with the final rune. I hope you are not angry with me and doing very well. it would be painful to have you angry or hating me for all of this. You mean a great deal to me, and the thought of you being upset with me is almost heartbreaking.

I shall see you as soon as possible. Probably within the first or second week from today.

Love Celestia.

P.S. I miss you too.

Marcus rolled the scroll and tossed it to the wall, frustratingly. He ran a hand through his hair and groaned as the two fillies continued sobbing into his arm and leg. The feeling of impending responsibility grew in him, a fluffy but also heavy dread that seemed to fall on both shoulders. He risked a quick glance to each foal, hoping he would not be touched by their sadness to surrender and accept being their parent.

During his neutral gaze at Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon he uncovered part of his heart and saw something within himself. He discovered the same feelings he harbored when Celestia was in dire need of warmth and safety. His mind said no to keeping the foals around, but the mind is not as strong as the heart, and his said the opposite.

"I can't be a caretaker for kids, can I?" he whispered to himself, his hand rubbing across the back of his neck, barely grazing the insignia he carries forever. "I already have enough problems in my life, and having others around me will just make it worse. But I cannot kick them out; they're just kids for crying out loud. Who knows what will happen to them if I don't help out."

"Papa, why do you hate us?" Nightmare Moon cried. "Please don't hate us. Please don't be mad at us."

Finally he gave into his emotions, albeit reluctantly. Fuck me. I just know I'm going to regret this tomorrow. Celestia, you owe me big time for this.

He kneeled down to Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon, and the two came together in his arms. Knowing he really had no choice in the matter, Marcus wrapped his arms around their necks, moving with a flowing grace they willingly accepted. Both were still in tears and panicking that he did not want them. Until his arms tightened and their heads were individually touched by his cheeks, albeit apprehensively.

Marcus leaned away to get a good look at them both. "I don't know what is going on, and I really don't know if this is a good idea, but I'll take care of you." He scooped both foals into his arms and spun around to sit on the couch. Just the sound of his small grunt amused the fillies. It was very funny.

Marcus made his way back to his room, forgetting a certain colt that just woke up from a lack of warmth. He climbed back into his bed and stretched his legs until they were under the covers, searching inside himself for the tolerance he will need to stay calm and collected. He sent a wave of warmth into the snuggly fillies. With it came their muzzles nestling into his neck. This is going to be a long, pain in my ass, unbearable journey of parenthood. 

Chrysalis giggled. She moved slightly across the man to wrap her hooves around his forearm. Marcus could feel the approach of her giddy spirit. She was beyond happy for him to change his mind. Pure, yet, somewhat unconditional love. She adjusted very easily, already knowing the best spot to shut her eyes is by resting on his arm. She was comfortable now, and so was Nightmare Moon, although Marcus wanted to push them aside and split the bed.

He pulled the covers over, blanketing himself, Chrysalis, and Nightmare Moon. "We'll talk about this in the morning. But, for now, get some sleep."

Relief swept through the Changeling and Alicorn." Goodnight daddy," they said together.

He groaned softly in his mind, as if he knew he was going to struggle being a dad. His mind nearly dropped into slumber at the thought, forcing his eyelids to slowly close, but something was able to send a harsh jab of pain to his abdomen. He did not let the pain come through and startle him. Removing his instincts and his hand from the dresser to his right had been the weirdest thing he's ever done. 

He immediately opened his eyes and sighed at the attacker. Now there was a very small lump of grey curling under the blanket, squeaking a very adorable yawn before falling asleep on his chest.

Marcus took a deep breath, let it out and made himself think maturely.

Okay, tomorrow, I'm going to need to get a veterinarian give me medicine for their size. I also have to pick up the dogs, so I better be quick to command them to be nice to these kids. Damn, booster shots are fucking expensive too. . .Wait, why am I worried about how expensive it is? I have millions that grandpa left in my name.

Marcus felt his heart decelerate into peace. His awareness soon drifted away and left him to slumber for the rest of his wintery night. Until the worst part of his situation replayed in his mind, as clear as day.

His eyes widened dramatically and his heart began to accelerate into panic. HOLY SHIT! PRINCESS LUNA IS GOING TO BE AT MY HOUSE! I HAVE TO CHILD-PROOF MY HOUSE AND HIDE ALL THE LIQUOR! FUCK ME! 
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marcus, so far, was having a very relaxing first morning in his new role of 'parenthood'. He was resting peacefully as the fillies were nested in the crook of his neck, on both sides, but it was kind of difficult to keep his eyes closed since a certain colt had his mane brushing along his nose. Sombra was somewhere between half-asleep and comprehending the man, so he squeaked a most adorable yawn that would make the most heartless of creatures grow soft. Marcus did not mind having the unicorn on top of his chest as the morning sun rose through the curtains to greet them, as did the alert of the little tike becoming aware of his surroundings. There was a long, awkward silence when the former villain locked his eyes with Marcus, but everything else was on thin ice.

Marcus was not the best person to be around when it came to kids, he simply could not tolerate parents allowing their little ones to get away with certain crimes that deserve a spanking or grounding. Sombra, however, was a different case, and he had to play it cool until things are resolved. He really did not like the idea of having ex-criminals in his house, but, at the same time, he did not mind having them around—this being consideration they're lives are beginning anew.

The only problem was dealing with whatever response the little colt has to give.

Sombra slowly rose from under the blanket with some difficulty, not from grogginess, but from lack of control. It was very obvious Discord made him so young he could barely walk. Curious as any foal can  be, he leaned down to the nervous man and sniffed him for a good minute as the fillies adjusted their positions, their hooves now tightly curled around Marcus' hands.

Still left with little understanding of the colt's action, Marcus chose the latter of keeping still and gathering his thoughts, albeit very quickly. It did not seem to take too long for him to gain a clear conscience as the foal grew a cute smile, his eyes big and wide with joy. He fell to his stomach and nuzzled Marcus' chin, giggling while the loving touch gave a tingly sensation.

"Dada," he squeaked, and then licked his chin. Marcus gave him a flat stare and groaned.

"Discord, if we ever meet, I am going to kick your ass." he whispered, just low enough for none of the foals to hear.

While the morning continued with understanding the situation, Marcus felt there was strange difference to his wake-up call, something beyond the foals coming into his life so suddenly. The alarm next to him was set to go off at seven o'clock, and it was going on eight in the morning. From what he could remember, his clock was constantly on and has not been touched since yesterday morning. As his common sense kicked him wide awake, a small rhythm of clopping echoed from the first floor of his house, and a very feminine voice speak in what he pinpointed—with his hearing, mind you—to bethe kitchen.

"What a strange way to keep food," the owner of the voice said. Next thing Marcus knows, he is hearing tupperware bounce on the floor and the mystery person curse to herself. "For buck sake, why is it so difficult to find a plate?"

Marcus sat up from the bed with Sombra in his arms, somehow not stirring either of the fillies. Sombra, on the other hand, was wide awake and afraid. He could see the look Marcus eyes and feel a change in the atmosphere as the intruder tried her best to stay, albeit very poorly. He curled his hooves around the man's neck and hid in his shoulder, whimpering as a small, steel box was pulled out of the dressed and opened by fingerprint.

Holding the frightened colt with his left arm, Marcus gently rubbed his back and shushed him whilst using the other hand to pull out an engraved Desert Eagle he received as a gift from his deceased grandfather. "Hey, it's okay little guy. No one is going to hurt you."

Another whimper made the slightly enraged man cringe on the inside as he loaded a magazine in the gun, his index finger clicking the safety to off.

Not in my fucking house.

Marcus rose to his feet very quietly and stepped out of the room with Sombra in his arm, instinct running wild. He kept his back against the wall opposite of the intruder's sight, hoping to sneak up on this female he keeps hearing. Firmly grasping the gun, he raised it to the right side of his of his face and stopped at the edge of the wall, just before entering the refurbished foyer. He could not see the shadow of his intruder as she dug through his refrigerator. This made his heart jump, for he could not tell if the woman had a weapon or someone next to her. How could he tell if there is more than one, or just her? Usually this would not scare him, but with a child in his arm—a child that is a mythological pony—he was stricken with fear for himself and Sombra.

Sombra whimpered once more, and Marcus gently threw his hand on the colt's snout as the invader perked her eyes to the sound. He looked at Sombra with trepidation and anger as the fridge was closed.

"Shhh~" he whispered with deadly silence.  

"I thought I heard something," she whispered, before shrugging off the nervous feeling. "But it must have been my imagination. Oh well, back to pillaging before I have to meet this handsome stallion my sister fell for."

Marcus dropped the 'killer instinct' attitude but kept his gun at the ready. He cocked an eyebrow and pondered the female's words as she rummaged through the cupboard for something sweet or salty, although it was harder than it seems when her magic is limited for the time being. He did not know whether to be flattered by the intruder's words or to take this as a way for her to catch him off his guard. Either way, he still felt threatened by this mysterious person and was not going to let a compliment soften his judgment.

Inhaling a courageous breath, the confused but defensive man quietly entered the kitchen with his firearm directly pointed at the intruder tearing through the cabinets now. He could not see her at all, for she was crouched and poking her head inside to reach for a bag of potato chips, which she opened by tearing off the top with her teeth.

"Making a mess in someone's kitchen is quite rude," Marcus said in a threatening tone whilst kicking bowls and spoilable food to the side, his eyes locked on the curious pillager. "But to make a mess in MY kitchen is beyond any level of stupidity. Now put your hands where I can see and come out very slowly, or I'm going to pump you with so much lead you'll be sneezing number two pencils."

It took a lot of willpower not to pull the trigger when the intruder started to raised her head from behind the counter, with a potato chip hanging out of her mouth. There was also the fact that her mane gave away that she was not a woman—or a human in that matter, she was the most familiar pony Marcus could think of as he locked his gaze with hers in a very awkward silence.

Marcus didn't even know he lowered his gun, but the crunching sound of a munched potato chip snapped him out of his daze. The strange staring from the Princess of The Night ceased when she stood up with his potato chips in one of her wings, and he could not help feeling like his life was about to end. If anything, the most he could do is beg for mercy or a second chance to prove himself, but this was the Alicorn that sets the moon and enters dreams, not to mention she was once evil.

Setting the gun on the countertop, Marcus mentally kicked himself as Luna approached, her eyes showing no ill intention. But what did he know when it comes to a pony's nature? The most he can, honestly, say is their herbivores and very aggressive when they need to be.

I am so going to die now, and by Tia's sister. He gulped as their distance closed, sweat pouring down his brow. God, if you are up there right now, then I must ask that you SAVE MY SCRAWNY ASS RIGHT THIS SECOND!

"Are you the one that is known as Marcus Vegora?" Luna asked in a calm tone, but in Marcus' mind he was hearing the wrath of a goddess. 

"Yes," he said with trepidation, his stomach twisting in knots. He watched the alicorn observe Sombra's behavior being somewhat true to Discord's word, and then lifted the bag of potato chips to Marcus.

"Well I no longer have to worry about my sister having good taste," Luna giggled, in which made Marcus exaggerate his shock over how calm she is. "But before we begin with formalities; would you be so kind as to help me find something nourishing? The sudden news of Discord's actions prevented me from having my dinner."

At that point, Marcus could not process anymore of what was happening. He just fell to the floor with Sombra giggling in his neck.

"I should have stayed in bed." 






***


"I must say Tia, you certainly do have a unique taste for special stallions." Discord said in sarcastic fashion, his lips dripping with milk, which happened to turn into tiny bursts of electricity. He was currently eating a large bowl of wheat cereal, the round bits of raisins shaped into Marcus' face before entering his mouth. He took another bite, before burping in front of the extremely stressed princess. "Marcus is certainly a card, maybe a king of his own deck. But I never would have thought that you of all ponies would take interest in somepony with such a past."

The brushing of Celestia's mane ceased in the middle of an annoying knot she failed to massage in the shower, her wings falling to the floor as she suddenly fell silent. Not a word. Not a sound. Not even the angelic hum of the Solar Princess passed her lips when she heard Discord's words. That seemed to constitute enough to the Spirit of Chaos that he poked one of her very hard to find buttons, which only made the moment more satisfying.

"Oh dear, did I hit a nerve?" Discord mused as she slowly turned around with her gaze still at the floor. He was completely unafraid of the Alicorn, but that silence did give him an uneasy sense of dread during her little fit of a cold answer. Not that it mattered to him, because he's got enough power to turn the country into cheese!

"What do you know?" Celestia asked in a deadly tone, mane beginning to flare at the tips. Discord blinked in surprise of this reaction. He had not seen her this close to changing in over four millennia. And that was during the time of her first love making a fool out of her during her first dance.

Well this is new. She hasn't been this irked in a very long time.

"Marcus trusts me with his secrets," Celestia told him quietly. . .dangerously. Her mane ceased its growing flames, and she looked up to Discord in worry. She stood up and approached him, tears brim as she backed him into a corner. "And he trusts me with those secrets. For you to know what he's done just makes this worse."

Discord threw his arms in the air, dropping his cereal bowl. But, luckily for the floor, he enchanted it to rematerialize in the mane of certain cyan Pegasus that pranked him last week. "Down get your wings in a knot, Celestia. Nopony knows what I know about the human, not even your sister. The way things are, your sister thinks neutral of him—" he cupped his chin at that last part. "—Although I did tell her that he is tending to her old-self. That seemed to make her fall for the poor lad in an instant."

Celestia glared at him with every intention to burn a hole through his skull with her gaze. She wanted nothing more than to make the chuckling spirit squirm beneath her power for lacking the ability to keep his nose out of other pony's business. But that mindset hindrance of being a princess stopped her before the first spell to immobilize him, and she was stuck dealing with his annoying flank until he had enough magic to do as she requested.

This entire situation was starting to give her a massive headache. And Luna was not around to use that healing spell only she knows how to prefect for such problems.

"Just tell me how long you until another portal is ready for everypony?" she sighed to the floor, Discord, being the pompous spirit he is, checked his magic with a snap of his talon. His power channeled through his fingertips, but not as strongly as he predicted.

"For me to have enough magic to create a portal that will send you and Cadance will take a couple of days—this including the portal will open and close on my command from now on." he replied, before sending his magic through his entire body.

"I need to sleep," Celestia groaned, trudging to her bed while the Draconequus materialized a dark story from Earth. 

"Shall I read you a story from Marcus' bookshelf?" he put a pair of oval  shaped glasses on and flipped through the pages. "Ah, now this looks like an interesting story."

"What are you reading, Discord?" the Sun Deity groaned from under her pillow. Discord coughed to clear his throat, while using his free hand to blanket her.

"Just reading a book I found in your coltfriend's bookshelf," he teased, receiving the Glare of Death from the exhausted Alicorn. "Who I must say he has good taste in dark stories. And what an odd title. . .The Hunchback of Notre Dame." he cringed at the thought of a human having such a spine. "Dear me, sounds like somepony needs to see a chiropractor."

"You're in for a rude awakening, Discord." Celestia told him in a monotone. "That book has a most vulgar story about a man being treated like a monster. But I will not ruin it for you. I'll let you ruin your own mind."

"You sound as if you already read it." Discord said with genuine curiosity as he flipped to the first page of the story, narrowing his gaze to the first sentence.

"I did, and I read them all." Celestia replied, albeit very tiredly. "Now let me get some sleep. I have to be up in a few hours to inform the citizens of Luna being away, temporarily."

"One last thing, Celestia," he tapped his chin in a deep ponder. "What is it about the human that makes you so interested in him that you're wanting to keep it a secret from everypony?"

Celestia tossed to the left as Discord watched her impatiently for an answer. She sighed contently from thinking back to the reason behind her infatuation of the man who saved her. Smiling as the Draconequus groaned in annoyance, the Solar Princess clutched her hooves to her suddenly rapid-beating heart and giggled under her breath.

"He made me feel like a normal mare with feelings, not as a princess." She replied in a happy and content tone, her eyes fluttering closed before she could finish. 

"Is that all?" Discord cocked an eyebrow at her. "He made you feel normal?"

"No," she shook her head and yawned, sleep overtaking her mind and body. "He hugged me. He made me feel. . . safe."






***


Upon having her first Earth meal in Marcus' surprisingly humble abode, the mask of the Lunar Princess fell to the floor. And out came a shockingly peaceful Luna with her cheeks full of cinnamon and honey dipped apple slices he thoroughly sliced for her liking. She currently at his countertop with her rump firmly set in a tall chair that could barely fit around her, but she was not complaining. Just the food itself was enough to impress her a little. And that is no small feat considering most of her meals consist of a chef that hardly sleeps at night and stays up most of his day to enjoy everyday life, albeit very poorly since he has to feed the goddess that guards his dreams.

Still, it was nice to be somewhere other than the loneliness of Canterlot and to have a home-cooked meal that did not consist of several maids or servants tending to her every whim. To relax as a normal mare without her secretary or Night Guard took much of her stress and worry as of late. The peace gifted to her helped rejuvenate the Alicorn, but the breakfast in front of her did the absolute best to make her exhausting travel worth while.

Meanwhile, Marcus was tending to a very hungry Sombra in the old baby chair his grandmother kept in the attic, feeding the little colt a jar of apple sauce since it was the only thing he would eat. Apple slices were put in front the unicorn, but that did not catch his eye. Scrambled eggs went out the door because of the odor. So was the french toast for its pinch of cinnamon, but Luna quickly took care of that and asked for more. Hence why apple sauce made the man's day, because he was starting to lose his temper with the foal.

Before another spoonful of apple sauce could land in Sombra's mouth, who so desperately loved for the sweet taste, Luna gave a slight cough which signaled the human to divide his attention.

"Master Thomas," Luna began as he stood up to relieve the pain his knees experienced with the hardwood floor, her eyes slightly narrowing in a serious manner. "I must say I am quite surprised of this predicament Discord has put you through. And, to be honest, I doubt anypony from my world would be so calm about harboring three fugitives. Not even Twilight Sparkle, I believe, could handle this maturely."

"Yeah, about that. . ." Marcus hesitated as he looked to the giggling colt with a soft cloth in the other hand. He began to wipe down Sombra's lips, but it became a serious fight with him. ". . .I don't really have the energy to be freaking out right now. That all went away when Celestia informed me you're coming here, and I immediately freaked out from the idea of not having my house baby-proof."

Luna nodded in understanding and continued to observe the man for her own reassurance. Given she is acting casual with Marcus, her true intentions, however, remained under the table as they shared a normal conversation.

"And you are not surprised by their change and presence?" she asked seriously, with an eyebrow cocked.

"Nothing is weirder than your sister showing up in my fields with cuts and scrapes all over her body," Marcus answered honestly, his eyes never leaving the hungry colt. Of course, Luna was astonished by his response. She never thought of this encounter having such a calm atmosphere to it, let alone the victim of Discord's shenanigans being so mature about it. "Besides, Tia insinuated in her letter these troublemakers being actual foals with no memory. So I will trust her judgment and do what I can to help, even if it means participating in the role Discord forced me into."

"Even to my own darkness?" she questioned, shooting a suspicious glare at him. 

"Yes, even to the filly that was your darkness." he replied in a serious tone. "Believe me, it is a pain in the ass to comprehend what is happening to my life. But your sister requested that I watch over them until further notice, which I will do for as long as she needs."

Luna, for a moment, let all her doubt in the man was away, as she watched him lift Sombra to his arms and carry him to the living room. She still wondered how someone of a different world could act so calm and mature about this. It just did not seem right at all, a two legged male tending to the reformed monsters she and her sister have desperately tried to lock away for all of eternity. Where did such a gentlecolt come from, and why does he accept the situation? Luna shook her head in denial of the man being kind and understanding. 

Different worldly creature or not, nopony should have this much kindness in their heart. She scrunched her nose in frustration. Handsome, I will agree. This façade, however, is going to end before my sister arrives.

"Dada," Sombra giggled as he curled up in Marcus' lap, cuddling while the television was switched  and the current channel switched over to the AnimeHub.

"It's going to take some time to get use to that," Marcus said to himself, before looking back to the princess. "You want to come join me while the other two are still asleep? You might as well learn some stuff about human technology while you're staying in my house."

"Agreed, I shall join you." Luna replied with a warm smile, although the true face of her intentions whispered in the back of her mind. This is going to be a very interesting. . . observation.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


***The Next Morning***


Discord stared into Celestia's mirror, his mind boggled by the Sun Goddess humming to herself as she brushed her hair. He should have known her morning would not be dull as they are. Always waking up and prepping for a long day of abating the selfish desires of those snobby nobles. He was under tense observation with this mare, but why should he when it is just a normal morning?

"What has you so giddy?" Discord disappeared, and then reappeared in the mirror as a reflection of Marcus, faking a warm smile as she ignored the urge to scold him for his antic. "Surely you're not acting so laid-back for that strange human, I hope. You do have your subjects to deal with today, so don't you think you should be more—how should I put it—uptight?"

Celestia giggled at the fake reflection and turned to the windows, confusing the Spirit of Chaos. She had never acted this way before, not even when Luna was freed by the Elements of Harmony. Was she under some sort of spell? Did somepony manipulate her mind while he read the Hunchback of Notre Dame overnight?

Celestia started to run a hoof through her mane and remembered the first touch Marcus gave her, his fingers pressing her cheek so smoothly before running down the back of her neck. She could not remember any stallion in her life touching her so caringly; if anything relative to a touch, her flank was the focus point for all her previous dates, but Marcus did not think about reaching there. 

Although self-conscious of her plot being the biggest, Celestia did not waste her time thinking about how many cakes went to glorious backside. Instead she recalled the words of her savior and held them by heart as the blush deepened. Good heavens, she forgot how bold he was to tell her such a thing about herself. It made her embarrassed for him.

Well you shouldn't worry about how you look, because plump rears are a man's favorite, including me.

"I really do not understand you at the moment," Discord snipped, losing all patience with this alicorn. She hadn't said a bucking thing to her! "What has you so mesmerized by this furless creature?"

Celestia started to move him out from beside her, her wing pressuring the Draconequus to step aside, but he took the hint and teleported to the edge of her bed.

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have somepony treat you like a normal pony or protect you out of sheer desire, not for the fact that you're a symbol of authority and benevolence?"

"That's a bit deep, even from you, Celestia." Discord pointed out, flabbergasted by the princess' poetic vocabulary. "What does being treated normal or protected out of free will have to do with that human?"

"It has everything to do with Marcus doing both of those things when he found me in the snow. I was not a princess or a goddess in his eyes, but a desperate and terrified mare that needed somepony to help her; and that is what he did. He saved me from the wolves."

Discord cocked an eyebrow and picked at the inside of his ear, uncertainty across his face during the raising of the sun. "I'm sorry Celestia, but did you just say 'wolves'?" 

"Yes," she nodded at the end of her calling to the celestial body, mentally and magically exhausted from poor control. She was very deep in thought of seeing Marcus again and bringing him to Equestria, hopefully. "I said wolves, but they are not the same as the Timberwolves. They're the canines you would find in the badlands."

"I know the difference, but now you have an interesting tale; and I would love to hear how the Sun Goddess was saved from wolves." Discord insisted, adjusting himself to a more comfortable position. "You do have time to spare before doing your duty."

Celestia chuckled to him, and then took a seat next to him. "Well. . . I suppose it would not hurt to tell you, but only if you promise to keep it between us. I would not want my citizens to know I was saved by a two legged creature—let alone a mortal."

"I can keep this a secret, but I require a little something in return." Discord insinuated. Celestia sighed in disappointment of his greedy nature.

"I will allow you to turn the bath into a pool of custard for one day, and I will return your whoopee cushion to you."

"Deal," he chirped. "Now onto the tale of Celestia being saved."

Celestia took in a deep breath and backtracked to the start of her temporary banishment. She tapped her chin a few times to motivate her memory, something she does out of habit.

. . .

Celestia whipped around in the snow, gripping the ribbon her corrupted sister wrapped around her horn. She barely allowed herself a moment to take her eyes off the hounds with their glowing eyes fixed on her figure, or on the many lacerations she endured in her failure to stop Nightmare Moon. Her gaze was drawn straight to the hackles dripping with hunger. She tried to lift herself off the ground, but her wings and hooves were tightly squeezed by gold chains. Her magic wasn't any help either so long as the ribbon remains on her horn. She was completely incapacitated and hurting all over. Everything was burning at those chains.

The wolves were collecting an assessment of their prey's mobility and strength, relishing the strange pony unable to defend herself. The pack leader sent three of them to enclose the circle, removing all hope, a putrefying blend of death and anguish they had mixed by torturing her mind with suspense and delay.

"Get away from me!" the injured alicorn screamed. She was only partway through figuring out exactly where they plan to start devouring her. She couldn't do anything to help herself. The most she could do was take a bite out of one and take it with her; at least as an honorable way of dying, though she very much so wants to live right now.

The pack leader barked at the princess, saliva flung onto her coat as a faint roar was heard in the distance. Celestia and the wolves did not notice or hear it coming their way at a rapid pace, following the trail of paw prints. The only thing going through the wolves' minds were they need to run, they need to hunt, they need to eat. Celestia's mind, however, was thinking very different as they snarled and nipped at one another, arguing about personal space.

She looked down up to the pack leader hovering directly over her and prayed that everything happening to her was just a nightmare from the chocolate cake she ate last night. Tears poured down her cheeks as she hoped to wake up in her bedroom with Luna free from the darkness and Twilight proclaiming that she IS the new Element of Magic. She just wanted everything to be the way it should be, a new dawn with her sister back home and the elements brought back to life. She prayed harder and harder, muttering under her breath for Luna to wake her up, but nothing was happening. The pack leader was still standing over her as a pair of lights came into view and a series of gears twisted and turned before silencing themselves.

Celestia did not hear the large device nor see a heavily coated stranger leaping out of it, she was consumed in sorrow and despair whilst thinking about how her little sister will never have the chance to see her again. She cried at that thought, relieving herself the benevolent nature her ponies see. She cried in denial of being a meal to these ravenous beasts.

Until. . .

"Son of a bitch!" a male voice bellowed over the Solar Princess, his vocabulary completely new to her yet his all the reason she needed to have a little hope. The pack leader raised his head and was about to strike at Celestia's throat, but the man running up to her from behind leapt at the last second and hugged his barrel, throwing the entire pack into chaos. They'd never seen their two-legged enemy go straight for the alpha so boldly. It was bold, but also very foolish.

Immediately barks and snarls were heard around the alpha and the man struggling against one another. The snow wolf fought desperately to roll his body, but those arms were keeping him from clamping his maw on the strangers shoulder. They rolled in the snow and wrestled for supremacy as the pack watched from a distance. It was out of respect for their leader, knowing their place and how this was a challenge to prove himself. This man had been starving them of food for years now, depriving their fun of the hunt ever since they took one of his own, but not anymore.

Celestia watched the fight turn over to the wolf. He rolled in the man's arms and lunged for his neck, but he was not fast enough to make his mark. Both hands clamped on his neck, and Celestia's savior folded both his knees under the snapping canine before kicking with all his strength. A loud yelp was heard as the wolf flipped onto the ground, a rib or two cracked while his pack resisted the urge to help.

The man stood up and ripped off his gas mask so he could see better, his eyes blazing at the hungry wolf as he reached for his weapon. To his dismay, it was not in the holster like it should be and realized that he dropped it somewhere in the snow. Luckily it was visible, but the one of the females stood next to it. He cursed himself for that. Now he had no choice but to use extreme measures.

"You still mad that I killed your mate and pups, huh!?" he barked at the alpha, provoking it. The response he got was a few steps forward and a snarl, just as he expected. "You may be a stupid animal, but it must piss you off that I shot them. Well you took something precious to me, so an eye for an eye, fucker!"

The wolf began to run at the man, knowing through instinct he was being mocked. Every fiber of his body focused on ripping his jugular out and feasting on his corpse. It's what he wanted. It's he needed to redeem himself as the strongest of the pack. But little did he know what the wolf killer slipped through a stitched pocked in the right sleeve of his heavy cloak. It shined in Celestia's eyes for a moment, before disappearing behind his arm. She knew what it was and what he planned to do.

The stranger started challenging the leader with hand imagery. "Come on! Come take a piece of me! I'm right here and ready!" he screamed, before pushing himself into a sprint. There were only a few yards between the two males as they charged one another, leaving very little time to see what will happen.

Celestia gasped in shock of the wolf leaping, and then closed her eyes before the killing blow was made. This was the end for the howling man, until the noise turned into deadly silence. Though the snow was blocking most sounds, she should have heard something just now; at least a small cry of pain from the stranger, but there was nothing. Not a single sound was made.

Celestia anticipated a bloody scene while slowly opening her eyes—that is until she saw the unexpected. Her eyes went wide, fighting to believe that the results of their short fight. There had never a doubt in her mind that the wolf had the advantage of being faster and more in tune with his instincts. She was certain that supremacy was won by him, but she was wrong. Very wrong.

Slowly the blood dripped from the man's large machete and puddled at his feet, his other hand still holding the lifeless wolf by the throat. The pack saw this, backed away, and then took off in the snow before he could set his eyes on them. The former alpha twitched a little as he dropped to the ground, nerves now completely dead and unable to keep the body from relieving itself. Celestia realized the blade had been thrust into the mouth and through the neck, which severed the spinal cord and shattered a small piece of the spine. 

He. . . He killed it.

The stranger did not bother checking his surroundings for the pack, he knew they were already gone. Instead he ripped his blade from the corpse and it towards his vehicle, but kept an eye on the teary-eyed princess behind him. She looked so fragile in her state and it brought a slight cringe to his chest. Real or an illusion—not that he gave a damn at the moment—seeing a fictional cartoon character in chains made him pity the poor mare.

Still, he was not sure if he should help her or turn around and leave. It wasn't to be spiteful, but there was the fact of Princess Celestia lying in the snow with her entire body squeezed in thin yet enchanted chains. How could he know if the alicorn is real or a figment of his imagination? What could he do to prove himself sane and not suffering from his need to never be lonely again?

He did not know what to say or do, so he stood there and—

"Help," Celestia's voice was cracking, weakened by the draining of her magic. She looked up to the stunned man figuring he should try to be a good person. He approached the princess, fell to one knee, and then removed his glove to touch her cheek. 

Celestia did not know if this was a good idea, but what other choice did she have? Her body hurts all over. She has little strength left in her and a stomach that needs filling. Desperation won over fear that time.

She leaned into his hand and nuzzled it in an effort to thank him, even as her lifeless gaze searched through his eyes for the light of his soul. Surprisingly there was a bright light and a deep darkness inside him, but the light shown more than the blackness. That was all the Solar Princess needed to know if he was a good soul or not. That was all she needed to know if she can put the smallest bit of trust in him.

"They burn," she whimpered whilst crying into his hand. The stranger raised an eyebrow at her, but the chains flashing across her body snapped him out his stupor. It was not difficult for him to conclude that the chains were burning her hide. 

"Please. . ." Celestia sobbed. "Please get them off of me!"

Quickly the man darted to his misplaced weapon, adrenaline spiking through his veins a second time. He picked it up, ran back to the princess, and aimed at the lock hanging off her wing. This made Celestia's breath catch in her throat and struggle, but he was ready.

"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you." the man exasperated, trying his best to not fire on her fur. It was much easier said than done. "Listen, my name is Marcus and I'm just going to break the lock, okay? This is going to break the lock, but it's going to be loud. I need you to stay still or I might shoot you by mistake."

Celestia didn't want to hear him or give anymore trust in this man, but that soothing touch of his hand persuaded her. It was the first time in her life that someone who actually cares was willing to comfort her. She never had someone like that before.

"Will it hurt?" she asked, her eyes narrowed on him. Marcus shook his head.

"It will not hurt you, but only if you still perfectly still. Now I'm going to count to three to prepare you, okay?"

Celestia nodded, begrudgingly.

"Okay, here goes," Marcus turned off the safety, aiming on the thinnest part of said lock as the princess looked away.

"One. . ." He looked up to see her cringing. "Two. . ."

"Just hurry up!" she demanded, only to have her words mulled by the sound of a short explosive clanking on the lock. Sparks of metal bounced into the snow and disappeared as the lock fell to the ground. Still it did not stop Celestia from yelping at the top of her lungs when the loud bang echoed in her ears.

"Okay," Marcus leaned away, eyes wide. The chains and ribbon suddenly disappeared, which is something you don't see everyday. "And here I thought I was going bat-shit crazy, but feeling and shooting that told me otherwise."

Marcus did not realize it just yet, but Celestia had lost consciousness before he spoke; even though the chains and ribbon were now gone, her body now had permission to shutdown from exhaustion. She could barely look up to the man picking her up before falling into a much needed slumber.

"Thank you. . . Sir Marcus. . . ."

. . .

"And that is how you fell in love with the boy?" Discord asked incredulously, ignoring how Celestia was shaking her and blushing at such a question. "Really my dear, chivalry is so bland in this era. You could have at least found some other reason to have feelings for him." 

"I do have feelings for other than being saved by him!" Celestia's went dry as the words dug into Discord's mind, a smile curling on him as she thought of the real reason behind it all.  

"Oh, there is another reason to you infatuation with this mortal. Now why would that be?" Discord gestured toward the image of Marcus in her mirror. "Why fall in love with a creature that is from another world; especially a world that is slower than ours."

Celestia gasped fearfully. "How did you—"

"My dear, I am the manipulator of reality." Discord proclaimed proudly, pressing a fist to his chest. "I know everything there is to know about dimensions and universes; and I know that by one day there you mean it was a whole week there. I know time is different between his world and ours. But enough about that—" he made himself an instant cup of hot fudge and started sipping on it. "—Tell me why you are in love with the human." 

Celestia took in a deep breath, knowing the Spirit of Chaos will not let her off the hook until she tells him. She braced herself for what would come out of this, but little did she know of the two princesses standing inside her door with every detail glued to their memories.

"Marcus. . ." she became shaky on the inside, but why? It's just a little crush, right? ". . . He treated me like a normal mare and did not judge me. He made me feel that I am my own pony in my own image, not some monarch that others see as an almighty being."

"Very bold," Discord took another sip, fudge mustache on his top lip. "But what else?"

"He. . ." she paused, uncertain if Discord could handle this last part. "He kissed me, and I. . . liked it."

The next thing that was heard through the room and across the hall was Discord spewing his cup of hot fudge, along with two young alicorns gawking at their aunt.


***


"So you are the one who rescued my sister when she was banished by my dark-self?"

The quiet friendliness between Luna and Marcus rose into a bit of a noise, somewhat. He sat on the edge of his couch with a puzzled look for the alicorn as she eyed him with curiosity and some lust, staring with feelings her body has not felt for a very long time. She could barely remember the last time her heart skipping a beat the last time her sister brought home a coltfriend.

He nod his head and breathed in to control the uneasy tingle the princess was giving him with her eyes. If she was anything Celestia told him, then his life was going to take a bad turn before he knows it. Trying for conversation, he coughed into his hand and set the remote on the table to his left. "It wasn't really a rescue, she was just stranded in the snow as I drove through the field to scare away some wolves. We just happened to find one another when the wolves surrounded her."

"Wolves?" Luna gasped, scooting closer to the human as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. It wasn't until he did the Lunar Princess noticed a deep and long scar running behind his ear to wherever on the back of his neck. "There are actual wolves in this world?" 

"Well yeah, but they usually run away at the sound of a gun." He ceased his movement and noticed Luna resting her head in his lap. This made him confused and slightly afraid. 

He felt the start of grin, a bright blush creeping along his cheeks. His mind recalled every detail of their encounter as though it were yesterday. All those bullets wasted for her protection, fighting for his and her sake, finding her kindness to be replaced with a much more animalistic nature. . . A million sensations struck his body, and his memory flashed before his eyes.

He chuckled nervously whilst trying to figure out what Luna is trying to do. If he did not know any better, he would have to say she is trying to take advantage while Celestia is still in Equestria.

"Was my sister still herself, or did my evil-self injure her so much she reverted to her primal state?" Luna asked with much curiosity in her tone.

Marcus' attention perked to those words, and he narrowed his gaze at the blue alicorn in suspicion. "So you're the one that made Celestia so bat-shit crazy." he calmly accused, receiving a crimson blush under those blue cheeks of hers. "I was wondering who made her go ape-shit, because I lost a good car that day."

"Car?" Luna questioned, tapping the tip of her chin with her hoof. "What do you mean by 'car'? Is that some sort of new carriage your kind use for travelling?"

Marcus slapped his forehead for that one, remembering this was not the same pony he taught when she was in his house. Damn, I'm gonna have to go through every vital thing about technology with this one now. he sighed in annoyance of himself, knowing what had to be done. Guess I better give her a crash course.

"Sir Marcus?" Luna said.

"First off, my name is Marcus." he gently stood up with the Princess of The Night watching him like a filly. He took one last look at Sombra watching Dog with a Blog before gesturing for her to follow. "And, secondly—"

"Daddy," a extremely young, feminine voice whined, breaking his train of thought with a small tug of his shorts. He looked down Nightmare Moon pouting under the blanket they shared through the night. She could not look any cuter in said blanket as it covered everything but her face. "Chrysalis pulled on my mane and kicked me out of bed."

"Only because you kicked me in the face!" yelled a disgruntled Changleling.

If there was ever a moment to laugh, this was that moment. Though the younger version of herself and the very monster that nearly plunged her home into eternal darkness, Luna could not deny finding this filly to be fascinating and absolutely entertaining. The pouty attitude and clinginess to the human just tickled her sides, though she should be suspicious and a little defensive for the time being. Still, there was something about this reformed Nightmare Moon that did not send any alarming instincts to Luna nor give any dangerous waves of magic, almost as if there really is no darkness or monster in the filly at all.

This was supposed to be moment Marcus acts on the responsibility of caretaking the upset alicorn at his legs and come up with a solution to the problem, but his mind veered off track, leading him in wonder and fear of the role he must play for the time being. He thought how unfair it is for these foals to imprint on him. He did not deserve to have parenthood thrust into his life a second time; at least not in this sort of way. Sure, he wants to have a couple of children of his own and a nice wife to help him settle away from his dark past, but everything is completely off course. He has no woman in his life. He has no children of his own. Plus the idea of settling down is not going to happen while his old friends continue bothering him.

Marcus continued staring at Nightmare Moon as she caught the fastest glimpse of Luna sitting on the couch with the most curious look about her. A brief second of silence is exchanged before the timid filly gasps and darts to the side of his leg, hiding from the deep blue gaze of her forgotten ally. She clung to the man's leg and whimpered while the faintest hint of jealousy dims in Sombra's eyes. He notices Nightmare Moon receiving all the attention when Marcus pets her and feels neglected, although he was just fed and held for a good twenty minutes.

"Amazing," Luna whispers, leaning from the edge of the couch towards the cowering filly. She stares deeply into Nightmare Moon's eyes and searches for anything relative to darkness rising within her a second time. But, alas, she finds nothing in her, nothing but a young spirit with no idea what is happening, and that is what surprises her the most. "She really has no evil left in her heart. Discord did reform her."

As Marcus stares at Luna to see if she is going to react in a positive or negative manner, Sombra braces his weak legs and glares at the timid alicorn, approaching her with ill intention to steal Marcus' attention from her. Nobody notices him taking small steps, but rather turn their gazes to Chrysalis stepping into the living room with the blanket over her body. She grumbles at the sight of Nightmare Moon and makes her way to the chair, hopping up to it and taking all the space for herself.

"Tattle-tale," she snips, receiving a strong glare from the man. Marcus crosses his arms at this and kicks his mind into gear, deciding on a firm approach with the Changeling how he should deal with her. 

"Young lady, there will be no name calling in my house." He points down to the alicorn staring at Sombra so curiously, unaware of what is about to happen. "Apologize to her right now, or there will be consequences." 

Now Luna is not one to act surprised when it comes to parenting, but having the three most dangerous monsters in all of Equestria act so childishly —not to mention live with someone who is brave enough to deal with them—did give her a run for her bits; especially when she bet against Discord that his plan will backfire in a week. She expected this poor sap to break at the first sigh of insubordination and beg for her to take them back to Equestria.

"This will be most interesting," Luna whispered.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Who is this special stallion?" Cadance asked, though with so much giddiness that her aunt was too embarrassed to answer. She bounced in place with Celestia's hooves in her own, ignoring the disturbing stares of her sister-in-law and the Spirit of Chaos. "Come on. Tell me. Tell me. Tell me!"

Celestia had carefully slipped out of Cadance' grasp and took that moment to step back. The joy of her niece was encouraging, but she did not need anyone interrogating her about Marcus when there are bigger problems. Her main focus was plain and simple: getting to his world to make sure Discord's stunt did not ruin, and that was all that mattered.

At once her thoughts increased, short flashbacks that shook her core. An ominous gasp from the Solar Princess was loud in the silence of her worry. Discord found he was feeling guilty as the alicorn hurried along with their plan. At first he'd been mellow with the giddy Cadance and suspicious Twilight, walking around the room like a marionette with no one jerking the strings he manifested to his arms and legs. He was getting very bored, until Celestia looked at him with a harsh glare.

"How long must we wait for the portal to be ready?" she asked, ignoring her nieces as they spoke about her finally finding a special somepony, though with different perspectives.

"We really do not have to wait," He breathed the words like air leaving his lungs, accompanied by his rare calmness for the situation and care for her. "I was hoping you would realize that the ruins are only necessary for maintaining a stable opening for your coltfriend to pass through, while I have the power to travel from dimension to dimension as I please."

Celestia found her heart swelling with anger and excitement. There should be no more surprises with this Spirit of chaos, but he proved her wrong. And yet, she was astonished by every turn he had taken for the foals and for her. Her suspicions continued to grow along with her fear of him betraying her a second time. Was he up to no good again? But he had a thing for Fluttershy and was afraid to hurt her again. But would he? Did it pass his mind to do something that goes against what he was taught by the Mane Six?

Her gaze shifted to the left and then cut back sharply to him. She could not stand her hard work and patience being all for nothing because of Discord possessing the ability to travel dimensions.

"And you did not bother telling me this why?" she asked, seething with rage as he chuckled. If there was anything that made her go over the edge, it was his chuckling. She despised that annoying sound.

Discord shrugged. "I wanted to see if you could figure it out. I mean, how hard was it to figure out since I gave you the obvious clue of dropping the foals off at the human's doorstep and sending your sister there as well."

"Well could you send us there as well?" she asked in a hasty tone.

"I can, but I will need time to recharge before finishing the runes."

"Just send us there now and fetch Shining Armor," Cadance demanded, though with a childish tune. "And inform him that he needs to watch over Canterlot while we are away. And not to worry about the Crystal Empire, the council can oversee my position in the meantime."





***


"What am I going to do with you two?" Marcus asked, jerking both disgruntled fillies back towards his chest, his arms firmly wrapped around their barrels. "It's been three years since I've been a parent, and you two bickering like this does not help."

"She started it," Nightmare Moon whined, kicking her sister in the foreleg with the tip of her hoof as she struggled for freedom.

Marcus had hastily prepared their place of "retribution" in separate corners, but neither were as cooperating as they were with breakfast. The chairs were small and lighting muted by the curtain. Snow blanketed the window, obscuring the Lunar Princess' gaze to the outside world of her potential lover's property. She felt trapped, moving around in a prison that is much small than the inside of the moon. How she could manage remaining sane she had no idea, but Luna was taking her time with the situation and with the potential future her sister may have started already. All she had to do was let Marcus have his time with Celestia, and then squeeze into their connection one hoof at a time.

"You know what happens to big cry babies," Chrysalis looked over towards her teary-eyed sister, pouty and jealous of the attention she gets with being so needy. "They get thrown away by their mommy and daddy because they don't want to deal with them."

Marcus barred his teeth at the smug changeling. "Chrysalis, you take that back right now and apologize to her. That was very mean and cruel of you to say to your sister. She has feelings, just like you."

Chrysalis wriggled in his arm before kicking him for good measure. "It's not my fault she's a big baby. And let go of me. You can't keep me here!"

As easy as it was for Marcus to let go of the filly, he did not let her have an inch of freedom. Nor did he give her the satisfaction. He knew from the last child the consequences of surrender. Just loosening his arm might alert her, and he would immediately invoke to the changeling the idea of her being able to push him around. Knowing that, to show his authority, he would provoke her with a challenge.

Marcus' gaze was steady on the green-haired filly, their eyes meeting in a clash of dominance as the Lunar Princess observed for assessment of his personality. He may be more handsome than any stallion she'd ever met, but looks would not deceive her. She would not let appearance fool her or her sister; there had to be something that would prove him worthy. Luna could only hope that the kind man was not as soft as she thinks he is.

Marcus' glare matched Chrysalis', but he had something she does not, something the blue alicorn could see through the nice façade. Luna had thought the human was fueling his counterattack with pride as an adult, but her experience and knowledge made her see past the windows of his eyes. Though the clash was indirect, she could feel a hidden character crawl out of him. There was no harm sensed by the man's slight change, but the Princess of Night was no fool to this feeling she suddenly felt. Her heart. Her mind. Her soul. They told her what she was experiencing as the changeling in his arm realized something was very wrong. Call it the instinct of sensing danger, and she was caught in the middle of it.

Luna was almost nervous to look at him, but she remembered the inferiority of his person. Still, there was something very wrong with him.

I have not felt this much emptiness since. . .

Marcus exhaled very slowly and released Nightmare Moon from his arm. "Go to the chair right now." he said in a hollow tone. Nightmare Moon looked back for a split second before dashing to her seat next to the fireplace. She did not look back afterward, nor say a single word. As for Chrysalis, her barrel was now clutched by both hands and she was dangling in front of the human. 

"Now let's get one thing straight, little girl," Marcus began, though in a low tone. "If I am supposed to be your father, then you will abide by my rules and show respect. This is my house. This is my domain. And I will not be disrespected by anyone in my home. You will not kick me or your siblings ever again, and you will behave with me. If you do not, then I will have no choice but punish you."

As confused as Luna was of Marcus' change, perhaps she was deliberately drawn by this attention through the memories of her sister possessing the same terror. She knew Celestia carried the same atmosphere and used it only when absolutely necessary, but it took her generations to perfect a cold attitude. And yet, somehow, Marcus was able to show said attitude with a serious lack of experience. It surprised the princess a little, for he was just a mortal.

Suddenly, his gaze softened and the mild temper had returned. Marcus' smile was back, but it was a weak one, as though he were devoid of all reason to be happy. That alone made Luna worry, such cold eyes, like a hollow death, staring you down, ready to suck the last of your spirit while he smiled down into you shell.

"Go to you corner, please." Marcus whispered into the changeling's ear before setting her down to the floor. He nudged Chrysalis with his hand and watched her take her seat in other corner.

"Impressive," Luna whispered to herself.

"You two will remain in your corners for the next fifteen minutes." Marcus spared a firm glare whilst setting the timer on his watch. "When the timer beeps, you may leave your corners. Until then, I do not want to hear a sound from you. Nor do I want to see you fighting with one another. If I do, I will reset the timer and add an extra minute."

Marcus next move was to head into the kitchen and wash the remaining dishes in the sink. He stood up and made his way there with Luna following out of curiosity. Her blue eyes bore into the quiet human, making it difficult for him to think about his agenda for today, but he stayed very secluded, determined to keep his composure.

"You are not some mere mortal that my sister has fallen for. You appear to be calm and kind yet you possess a cold nature that is similar to hers, and you use it to cease any conflict."

Marcus nodded whilst turning on the hot water and plugging the sink, clutching to the thought of seeing Celestia again in a mental death grip.

"You could be with others and have more meaningful life, but you choose to live alone and secluded—why?"

Luna's intelligence lashed him like a whip. He even flinched under the soft tone as her snout met his arm. Beside the awkward affection and infatuation, Marcus head went up, his eyes focused on the backyard he could see through the kitchen window. Immediately a harsh remembrance enveloped his mind. His body tensed.

Marcus . . .she was just. . .

She was. . . He blinked to the gunshot replaying over and over in his head. The sound unforgettable and relentless as he processed the Lunar Princess sliding her head underneath his arm.

"I have my reasons for living out here; and these reasons help me stay alive." Marcus said, his voice devoid of all emotion with the effort it took to keep himself steady and collected. This worried Luna as the movement of his hands hastened. She began to notice from this movement a shift in his clothes that revealed more markings. The faster he scrubbed the remaining dishes, the more visible these markings were. If it wasn't for the poor lighting, she would guess that multiple bite marks scarred him and puncture wounds were on his shoulders.

Strange. . .

She turned her attention back to the original thing of her curiosity as Marcus his gaze toward her.

"What would you do if you saw my sister again?" she asked.

"Again?" he looked up to the ceiling and pondered. "I am not entirely sure. We told one another what we would do, but I doubt any of it would happen since it's just talking." he admitted, sighing while the princess took it upon herself to magically dry the dishes in the dish rack.

"Why do you have such doubts?"

"Because talking through pieces of paper is not the same as talking in person. We may have desires for one another, but I have the freedom to take action while she does not." he answered, looking down at the mare. "From the time she was here, I learned that she cannot be herself while having the crown on her head. Everything she does is another thing for others to judge. Plus she's told she is afraid of expressing herself around others."

"While I have no idea what my sister wants, my mind begs me to ask: what do you wish to do?" Luna asked curiously, stacking plates and glasses into the cupboard he left open before taking her own crown off her head.

"If I could I would hug your sister and tell her that I have missed her. And if she would not mind, I would give her the same kind of kiss we shared before she left," he explained as Luna took off her slippers. She set them on the counter and looked at the frowning human twiddling his thumbs in the soapy water.

"She grew to bond with a strange creature such as you; and because of it, she now has another reason to be happy." she told him, nuzzling his arm, eager to see if he would react. Surprisingly, he jerked his head to the right and stared are her in skepticism.

"She's happy because of me?" he asked, and Luna smiled warmly. She instinctively curled a wing around his arm and stroked it affectionately to drag him from the negatives of his distance with Celestia. She wanted to see more of the man that makes her sister smile. Marcus could not help but follow the alicorn's movement as she pulled him from the sink. She was murderously beautiful like her sister.

"Hmmmm. . ." she hummed erotically, using her left wing to touch his cheeks. She turned his head from side to side for better examination, her appendage drawing steady breaths from the man as he remembered the softness of wings. They were just as good as Celestia's, but Luna's were smoother.

"You have a gentle soul underneath those hollow eyes." she pointed out, her feathers now tracing down his neck. She also took careful note that underneath the clothing he was more toned than she assumed. He was no Minotaur, but there was a well-endowed body underneath those annoying garments. "I can see some of the reasons to her feelings for you, but the most interesting part is the similarity to your soul."

"My soul?"

"Yes, you have a deep similarity to my sister. You both carry kindness for all, but you are not afraid to do what must be done. And the biggest factor is that you have a great deal of pain behind your eyes." Luna inquired, holding onto his hand this time as she pulled down on his shirt. It was then she saw a black drawing on the upper muscle of his right arm, spying what looked she presumed to be a cutie mark. But that could not be right since he is not a pony, and it has a date underneath the names: Daniel. Luna wanted to ask but felt it would be intrusive of her. Plus the timer went off, and that broke off the moment.

"Alright girls, you can come out of your corner. But you'd better be nice to one another and behave." Marcus said sternly, leaving the Lunar Princess to see if they were getting along now. He walked inside the living room and watched Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon hop out of their chairs, taking his seat on the couch. He curled up in the afghan and lied down with Sombra leaning back towards the couch.

The two fillies continued to walk in silence and began to feel that they needed some affection from the man to really understand if he still loved or cared about them at all. Thinking back to the idea of him being their father, Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon wondered if their real parents were the same way as he is with them. They worried that maybe he was just tolerating their presence and was waiting for Luna to take them back to wherever they came from.

"Do you hate us?" Nightmare Moon asked, rearing up to the couch. Luna heard this as clearly as Marcus did but leaned over the couch to see his reaction with the filly. Upon watching the alicorn shed tears, she was fairly surprised, to say the least, to see Marcus scooping both foals into his chest with the intention of snuggling them. A long gaze at the human's questionable act confirmed to the princess what he was doing and it made her want him more.

"Hate you?" Marcus chuckled, petting their manes, halting their fear. "I do not hate any of you. I'm just stressed that you three came into my life so suddenly. It's been quite some time since I was a parent, and having three foals is entirely new to me."

Now this was a nice turn of events, and in Luna's favor too. She would always ask herself if there was somepony, anypony, that could love a monster such as her, and she knew from her encounters with stallions that it may be impossible to find a significant other that can see past her history. But whatever to the reason, a normal sign from the heavens would have sufficed for the Lunar Princess, which was saying something because, like all her dates, there was not even a good night kiss involved and she was left disappointed. Still, to see him hold her dark-self in his arms and comfort her without hesitation was a very nice indication to there being hope for her. As comfortable as he was with the fillies snuggling him, Luna took to her sweet, little desires that would, probably, make her sister angry with her.

"Might as well make it three. Come here, Sombra." Marcus grunted, reaching over the edge of the couch. He pinch the nape of Sombra's neck, lifted him off the floor, and placed him between his 'sisters' before pulling the afghan over them. 

Oh how she adored seeing Marcus snuggle all three of them, so much that she felt compelled to make herself a little room.

"Make that four." She used her magic to pull the large footrest to the couch and teleported onto it. With enough room, she took advantage of his lower half and used it as a pillow, a loud hum of curiosity emanating from the man.

"Feeling left out?" Marcus asked, reaching over to pet the comfortable alicorn by her ear. Something like this was one of many dreams Luna has when she imagines a significant other in her life and she enjoyed it nonetheless. Marcus did not mind as much as he thought he would.

Luna giggled and then licked his hand, her affection a little too much for the trapped human before he blushed. His redness met a rather amused look from the princess.

I want him.




> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"He looks so strange. . ."

"I think he's kind of cute. . ." Marcus' ear twitched as his mind dragged itself back into the realm he must call reality, his eyes fluttering and eventually opening to the most unexpected pony. He was going to scream like any human being would when they have a smiling face looking down at them. However, due to the lack of sleep from the foals and sense of pressure upon his entire body, his senses slowly adjust as he stared into the gorgeous eyes of the pink mare, eyes blinking every so often, gripping what might have been the situation yet unable to process what he sees. To his dismay, a gentle giggle from the princess eased him into grasping what was happening. His lifeless stare became a bemused look while the sound of snoring and hooves surrounded.

"If this is another trick from Discord I swear to god I will break my foot off in his ass." Marcus' gentle, yet somewhat aggressive, voice amused the pink alicorn as he looked down his chest to see the foals and Luna were still resting on top of him, snuggling underneath the blankets with him as their pillow. He sighed out in frustration and gazed up further past the mare, finding the time on his grandfather clock to be eleven in the morning. He was quick to realize he had been asleep for over two hours; and that was no natural part of him. He never napped for so long.

"Are there more of you?" he asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes with the only hand that is free. It was very obvious to the giddy pony that he was not ready for another surprise visit from royalty. Still, it would be the best visit he had in a long time; especially when the one on his mind was standing behind the couch with her faithful student munching on a large bag of potato chips.

"Is he awake?" Twilight asked, tossing another chip in her mouth. Cadance had taken it upon herself to brush the top of his head with a short nuzzle, rather than give a proper greeting. Given that she was deep in thought of the emotions bursting from her aunt, she was enjoying the hint of jealousy she was feeling after the alabaster alicorn watched her do this intentionally.

"He's awake, but I doubt he's ready to be awake." Cadance answered, ending her tease with a quick inhale of his scent. She looked up to her aunt, finding that she was barely in control of herself. There was a powerful sense of claiming resonating from her auntie, stronger than most ponies she felt were in love. Maybe even stronger than when she claimed Shining Armor.

"For a hairless ape, he's pretty cute." Cadance complimented. Celestia did not add anything to that, but remained silent by biting her tongue whilst thinking the best way to approach her human. She had not seen him in two years and was already nervous; even though formalities are not needed, she still felt cantankerous from seeing her own sister snuggle him. How dare she take advantage of her human!

"So this is what a human appears to be?" Twilight questioned. Marcus did not answer or offer some sarcasm, but opted to carefully sit up without waking the foals or the Lunar Princess. His left arm slid smoothly out of Luna's grasp and across her cheek as he used the other arm to keep the little ones from rolling off him. Unfortunately there was a bit of a problem with the blue alicorn refusing to release his arm. He finally made himself known to the Solar Princess, and he brought forth many emotions she was withholding during their distant relationship.

Celestia felt many things while staring at that handsome face, remembrance flooding her mind as she recalled the wonderful kiss he braved across her lips. There was so much to go by that she hadn't the ability to process herself. Joy of seeing him again. Excitement that he had been faithful to her these two years. Anger that her sister is sleeping with him. Worst of all, jealousy from seeing her niece nuzzle him. It was all too much to deal with. She felt like a bomb getting ready to go off as her student observed the bemused man.

"Are you eating my potato chips?" Twilight did not answer immediately, but looked up to him in confusion before grinning sheepishly and hiding the bag behind her backside. His uncomfortable glare ran behind her to see that the bag was nearly empty.

"I. . .uhhhhh. . . " Twilight was at a loss for words, unable to debate the best answer. "I had forgotten to eat during my morning studies, and the princess said that it would be alright if I took something so long as I repay you. I did search for something else to eat, but all I found were many round cans in your cupboards and frozen fish in a strange cooling device." She explained, albeit very sheepishly. While Twilight looked somewhat disgusted of herself of her actions, Marcus had shrugged his shoulders, as this reminded him of Celestia rummaging through his kitchen to find the strawberry cake he made at her request, but also hid to make sure there was some for himself after dinner.

"Well if you were hungry you could have just woken me up and asked for something eat. It's not like I'm going to make anyone in my house starve."

Strangely, instead of finding that insulting, Twilight found herself surprised by Marcus' blunt gesture as he gently placed the foals on the pillow he used. The suspicion in the very center of her mind shrunk, replacing the emptiness with warmth. Comforting? Not really. Only the Princess of Friendship, on the very edge of fear, already curious of the new world, would see through her pondering to keep a close eye on him. Her teacher may have waited to see this creature again, but she was not going to let personal reasons and respect for the mare get in the way of observation. 

Cadance giddiness subsided, and she felt that it was the right time to attempt to understand how this common creature stole her aunt's heart. She stood in front of him and began with bowing to show some respect.

"You may already know me as Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but you may refer to me as Cadance." she said politely. "And what should I properly call the one who has caught the eye of my auntie?"

"Marcus is my name, so stick with that." He replied, walking past the alicorn without realizing that Celestia was right there. "And secondly, I forgot to mention this, but do not use formality of any sort in my house. The same rules apply as they did when Tia was here: you are to take off your crowns, slippers, and be yourselves. This is my house, so no royalty bullshit."

Celestia smiled again, this time more genuine than forced. You are still the same after two years. Marcus, you're still so childish and blunt with your kindness, but that is what I love about you.

Marcus took the bag of chips from Twilight and tossed it into the trash can, bemused that he now had a missing ingredient for the vegetable casserole he planned for dinner. The tension slowly eased from is body with every step he took towards the kitchen to prepare a proper meal for the still-hungry alicorn who was wiping remnants off her lips with the afghan. Rude it was, but nopony was watching her. After making sure there was no evidence she followed her teacher into the kitchen and sank into a chair while he removed ingredients from the fridge, drawing curious looks from her and her sister-in-law.

"I'd offer you fruit or vegetables, but most are in the trash for being spoiled." He said, while placing what he has to cook in the sink for cleaning. "Hope you don't mind an omelet with apple slices and french toast."

Celestia giggled quietly at her ignorant human as she removed her crown and slippers, remembering not to scuff the floor. Her feelings were very genuine. She was going to have to throttle Marcus for sleeping with her sister, although it was not his fault. Luna did have a serious tendency to put herself in the equation when it comes to her private life. "You must have been very desperate to sleep with my little sister. I had hoped you were faithful to me this entire time." She managed her most schoolmarmish voice, the one that made Marcus sit up and take notice—or topple over in shock of her teasing.

"I have not given up on you Tia. Your sister just decided to—" his mind was the first thing to stop as the Solar Princess laughed at his silly ignorance. He dropped the apple in the strainer and froze in place, his gaze stuck on the window reflecting his princess' image. His heart raced as he swallowed the hard lump in his throat. He could barely whisper her name as the hot water ran over his hands, the pain in his hands slow to register.

Celestia nodded as she unfolded her wings from the aching desire to hugging him. She wrapped herself around the stunned man and pulled his back to her chest to rest her head against his, her care for what the others noticing already diminished by the touch of his cheek. She had missed his touch for too long.

"I know it is not in your nature to lose faith in me," she whispered, pressed the side of her head against his. Cadance confirmed that her aunt was not just infatuated with this creature. She was in love with him. "You are just too kind and gentle to others."

She was telling the absolute truth, which was why she had so many feeling for him. She mixed truth with implication—not any lies. She tried to refrain from crushing her human with her wings. It was hard letting go.

"I've missed you so much, Tia." His words struck home for the alicorn as he bid her to remain like this by pressing his hand over her wings, pulling them back before they broke away. 

Celestia's bubble of nervous laughter welled up as she felt the other hand pressed in her feathers. "But you were just sleeping with my little sister;" She teased, stifling a laugh while her friend fought hard to not chuckle. "Are you sure you missed me, or did my sister catch your eye?"

"Well she is quite warm and affectionate," he replied, and then hummed at his thoughts. What he did not know was that Celestia already had him beaten.

Celestia called on her mad thousands of years of acting skills to play the man, her long lashes sweeping down deliberately as she spun him around. "But you enjoy the soft sensation of a mare with large, firm flanks. And I do not believe that my sister meets those standards." She finished, doing her best to look seductive.

"Princesses," the man scoffed with his head high. He would have been believable if it wasn't for him staring at the mare from the corner of his eye.

"Humans," Celestia spat playfully, with her Cheshire grin.

Silence worked between Celestia and Marcus before they broke out in laughter. This confused Twilight as he wrapped his arms around the princess' neck and hugged her tightly, ignoring that his hands were wet and going to soak part of her fur. "It is good to see you again Celestia, but you could have woke me up instead of waiting."

She had no choice but to mess with him. In any case, she had been looking forward to being herself with him. "You appeared to be very tired and comfortable with Luna and the foals on top of you. Besides, we arrived a few minutes ago."

"Oh," he chirped, though with too much enthusiasm. "Well in that case, are you hungry?"

Celestia felt jittery. She was used to being around maids and servants who ask if she is need of something. Spork was her best chef and very considerate of her tastes, but never did he ask what it is she wants to have for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Marcus was certainly curious of her appetite. He did not care about what is best for the Solar Princess. He was caring even. He did not think hard about healthy food for a princess and he never once acted as if he needed to. He was a simple man that treats her like a normal pony, and that is what made her want him more.

"Pancakes with berries." She requested. His quick nod was all she need to know as the rest of the girls joined her at the table.

Cadance sided with Twilight and felt a little envious of her aunt. It was not fair to her. Marcus entire demeanor changed to this kind and gentle creature. She was ate up with the thought of a stallion offering food to his princess. Why couldn't Shining Armor treat her like that, she thought. Oh well, she could con him into making breakfast before or after their morning 'fun'.

"By the way, I retired my guns." Marcus announced, specifically to Celestia, with a small joyous glance over his shoulder. "I finished my last job and told my uncle that I no longer want to be part of the work. He was very understanding, but still takes some time to visit me."

It was the last thing Celestia expected, but she realized his revelation and joy made it easier for her to convince him into leaving this world when the time comes. Marcus had a very powerful job and a way to keep everyone away from the truth while he prepared for more work, or waited by travelling to the location. She knew he probably had a high rank of some kind in that explicit business. Still, there was the obvious truth that Marcus kept possession of his weapons but had them locked tightly. Celestia clapped her hooves and beamed with excitement. This was no ordinary expression.

"You never told me in the letters you retired. When did this happen?" she asked, throwing her nieces off guard as he made the pancake mix, their eyes swimming with worry while she adjusted in her seat.

Marcus looked up, pinning the girls with his warm grin. "I retired last year, sometime before Christmas. Now I'm just living on Grandpa's millions. Of course there are some charities and shelter gatherings I attend."

"You really have come around, haven't you?" she quipped, though with a more enthusiastic tone. "I cannot tell you how proud I am that you took my advice."

"Thank you, Tia."

Cadance leaned into Twilight and whispered, "Do you any idea what a 'guns' is?"

"I have no idea." Twilight replied in a low tone.





"So who is hungry?" Cadance and Twilight did not have an immediate answer. They stared at the man in his apron as he flipped another pancake onto a plate and began making another. This was almost too much for them. It was common for a chef to wear a full apron to protect themselves, but he was in an apron you only find on most mares, and there was a bandanna on his head.



Both princesses hid behind their wings and snickered, unable to face another minute of this feminine display without breaking into full-blown laughter. Celestia could not be more disappointed in them and scowled and tried to scold. Twilight and Cadance saw what was coming and ducked their heads, twisting themselves out of their seats, giggling through their guilt, as if they knew their aunt would take her anger out on them. After all, she'd been without her 'Marcus' for two years.

"Be nice!" Celestia whispered, and then spun around to face the confused man holding a plate of pancakes. She put on her best smile and raised her hoof as though she were in a restaurant. "They are just curious to see the rest of the house, just leave them be and let us focus on making up lost time."

Marcus shrugged. "Okay, but how many do you want?"

"Three, with extra syrup."

"And to drink?"

"Orange juice."

"Coming right up," he said. "But be sure to brush your teeth after you eat. There is an extra toothbrush and bottle of toothpaste in the cupboard in my bathroom. They're unopened."

Celestia giggled. "What are you, my mother?" 

Marcus raised an eyebrow at the princess and dropped her food onto the extra plate he set in front of her. "No, but you are in my house. You have to abide by the rules."

"I know. I'm just teasing you."

It was not so convincing to Marcus, but he kept smiling and nodded, while removing the bandanna and apron. "I know you are sweetheart," He looked down to the clock on his oven and realized what time it was. His eyes went a little wide. "Oh man, I just remembered that I have to go to the store tomorrow." The lightbulb came on, and he looked towards the mare levitating her fork and knife. "That reminds me; how long do you plan on staying?"

"A few weeks for observation of the foals." Celestia replied, with a mouthful. "Discord has to regain his strength and finish building the spell I was working on. I hope you do not mind."

"As long as you clean up any mess you make, I'm more than okay with it." He replied. "But since you are staying, I'll need to make preparations for everyone and make a big shopping list for tomorrow."

Celestia nodded. "Very well, and thank you for this."

Marcus left her, striding away with serious thinking ahead, disappearing into his bedroom down the hall. Cadance and Twilight wrapped themselves around the foals being villains they defeated and cooed at them. They hadn't been aware of their fellow princess watching them after Marcus closed his door, but now they felt a little uncomfortable for no apparent reason. 

"Don't do anything rash when I go talk to him," she whispered, followed with taking another bite of her breakfast.

Marcus sat with a small notepad in one hand and a pen in the other. He stared down at the list he started and reminded himself the provisions he provided the first time Celestia was in his house, though with a bit more enthusiasm than any person. But why did it matter, he was happy to see her again.

"Twilight and Cadance can use the upstairs' bedrooms while Celestia takes mine. I'll just need use the extra bed and have the foals there, which means I'll need to get extra blankets and pillows for everyone." He told himself, his voice indicating some maturity and certainty as he added said items to the list. "Probably should grab some books at Barnes and Noble for Twilight, or just call the cable company to add a bunch of educational channels. But doesn't that mean I need to add some sort of Lifetime and Hallmark network for Cadance, or would they fight?"

He sighed and sat on the bed, one hand running through his hair. Around the scar behind his ear was a large scar that matched a bite mark, almost perfect with every tooth imprinted in the deepest region of his skin. He caressed the scar and remembered that it was the second most painful thing to feel. The first being Celestia's leave. Confusion swept through him, for the bite mark stinging more than usual and everything he needs to buy to make their stay very comfortable. He had told himself one of the problems to his behavior is how lacking his social skills are. This had to be remedied before the week was over. Marcus had definitely put the idea in his head to fix how antisocial he is with everyone but the Solar Princess.

This is going to be a pain in my ass. . . he tossed the notepad and pen onto the table next to him, though with a bit more force than he should have used.

A knock as his door snapped the man out of his thoughts and he sat to see who was seeking entrance. He stood up and opened the door enough to have the pony at the door poke her head inside. He had to be kind to impress his favorite princess with his easy-going, equality attitude. His eyes came close to what he knew to be the most beautiful purple orbs a mare could have for eyes, glittering and so focused on him that it seemed to be a trap for staring into his person. He was a little nervous to have her this deep in his personal space. Obviously she'd felt the same way.

"Celestia," his voice was like a lost lullaby to the princess, a smooth tune she'd dreamt hearing after returning home. It was so good to hear his voice that she almost shed a tear. "Do you need something, or is there a problem?"

Celestia bit her lip as if wondering if she could be open with him or not. "There is no problem, you just left so abruptly that I was worried." She lied with a very silver tongue, although she did not have to hide the truth from him. She pushed a little harder on his door, nearly pushing him onto the floor. "Would it be alright if you and I could talk privately?"

"Sure thing." He spoke enthusiastically, moving from the door so she could properly.

Celestia made her way into the bedroom and recalled a much messier floor. But this, she was almost astonished to see that Marcus matured enough to maintain some respect for his home. It made her breath get caught in her throat as the door closed behind her, locking the world outside of her with a turn of the key he has on his key ring. It seemed a little strange to the man he was locking the door and trusting the two most impulsive of princesses to watch over the slumbering foals and Luna. But still, he knew that Celestia trusted him to keep his hands to himself, although every muscle in his body screamed to hug her.

He dropped his guard, switching to his 'person' as he removed his apron and shirt. Sad to say he was acting a little odd for most females, but the Princess of Day did not mind at all seeing him like that, and she certainly was not going to complain about what she sees right now.

"Your physical appearance has grown some," the princess pointed out as she watched him look inside his large closet for a clean shirt. "Did you take on better eating habits like I suggested?"

"Yes, and I bought a weight bench a few months back." 

"You look very fit for somepony your size."

"Now you and I both know why that is." He sounded friendly enough. He did not appear particularly annoyed or frustrated by her arrival, as if he would be in the first place.

"Have you spent these last two years by yourself, or did you make some friends and a mate?" She asked, suddenly remembering that his loneliness was for good reason. He had to be alone, always.

"I'd like to say that I found someone, but that would be a lie."

Celestia forced herself to remain calm, shuffling her hooves as he found a sleeveless t-shirt. She could barely help herself with having this man's heart for herself. It was a relief to know he still wants her, until she noticed the mark she left on him. She inhaled deeply, reaching for the courage that cannot be matched. This was worse than being brave against Tirek. It was hard, but she grasped it, still on shaking hooves as the remainder of their formalities dropped. She took that familiar scent into her lungs and just held it there, satisfied to know she was not dreaming.

"I have missed you."

"I've you missed you too Tia, more than you know." Marcus admitted, putting one hand on her cheek to reassure himself she was real. Deliberately she leaned into his hand and clutched his forearm to keep from losing his attention.

Her heart began to beat hard again. Finally, in her time of patience was the human she fell for. She just needed more time and an opportunity to sweep away the life this man has so he can be with her. She had a feeling this particular man would not be swooned or seduced. 

"Did you have somepony see if it can be removed?" She asked him, gently turning his head to see the large marking was still there. She had thought it was her mind playing tricks and the guilt was helping.

Marcus gave her a small smile and grasped the hoof stroking the back of his neck. "Scars cannot be remedied like they are in your world. Once it is there it is forever, but I am not complaining."

"I assaulted you and tried to end your life." She reminded him. Marcus just laughed and shook his head at her.

"You were not right in the head at the time."

"I was perfectly sane."

"But you were very afraid and a little traumatized."

"It does not excuse my actions."

"So you would prefer me hating you?"

"No. . ."

"Then shut up about it and be happy."

Celestia grimaced and sank down onto his bed, allowing her mind and body to naturally break away from the set standard of her more professional demeanor. The time of being a princess was at a nice pause but she was well versed in staying the same mare every pony sees her as. But she did not want that. She wanted to be free. To be herself.

"You look like you haven't slept either; why don't you take a breather and relax throughout your stay?" His concern was the best to her. It was real. It was directed to her and not to the princess underneath the crown. It was genuine.

Celestia smiled again, this time with her own. "I have not taken a break since Twilight ascended. Adding another princess in power has weighed on me, but I've gotten use to it."

Marcus raised his eyebrow. "You're still acting like the Celestia everyone wants to see, but not me. I want to see the real you right now."

Celestia shrugged. "I guess it is difficult to release myself from who my subjects see. At least I have you to help me stray from 'her' for the time being."

He nodded, suddenly close to her. The tension slowly reduced from Celestia as he sank down onto the bed beside her while she moved her wing around his back. He wasn't aware of it, but soon he would be trapped.

"Must be a pain in your ass, being someone that you are not."

"In some ways. Especially when I'm trying to find a moment of peace. There are so many greedy nobles in Canterlot and having some prey on me for a chance of power. . ." She trailed off, realizing genuine anger—her anger—had crept into her voice.

Marcus was sorry for her. He saw stress in her eyes and knew she'd given too much to her kingdom. Cursing silently to those selfish bastards, he idly stroked her neck and tossed professionalism away.

"You did not want to talk about the foals, did you?" he asked. "You just wanted to vent on someone and let off some steam, but you do not know if your own family will remain quiet and not act on you."

Celestia's eyes focused on him, all that piercing intelligence of his shining brightly. She had to remember that his wits were one of his best characteristics. She had to fight to stay relaxed. Though the gap of their ages is ghastly, he looked as if he could see through her. "You humans are a fascinating species. Nothing slips passed you."

"Only some of us are perceptive," Marcus said. That much was true. He indicated the space of his lap as she lowered to her stomach. Let her fish around the bed for the best spot. "You want to talk about what troubles you before I greet the others properly?"

Celestia didn't so much as think. She quickly threw her wings around the man and pulled him down for the fantasy she had for months. Though it was wrong and too direct, she brought forth her reassurance of his feelings for her by holding him close.

Marcus did not flinch when her magic guided one hand to her side and the other to her neck. He looked down at her to see the 'real' Celestia snuggling him. "I guess you don't want to talk about what's eating you."

"I do want to talk, but can't we. . ." A pregnant pause of her own worry came into place, her mind deep in the idea of pushing their friendship one step further. Not a big step, but a very small one that would tell her if this man still wants her. "Will you just hold me until somepony comes for us?"

Celestia could not see it, but her smiling human was more than happy to wrap his arms around her. The tighter his hold was, the better she was feeling. This was better than any magic to the princess. This was paradise.

"As you wish, my dear." He cooed.

Celestia recalled those words and felt what he expressed during her stay. Her walls came down and the defensive mare she always was became free. She felt what was a hopeless dream.

She felt safe and loved.

. . .

"By the way, did I see jealousy when you saw Luna on top of me?"

"Shut up."
> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia's tension finally ended and gave way to the more personal mare she is without the crown, a very rare switch that a certain human was looking forward to see: the real Celestia Del Sol. Much to her delight, Marcus refused to let her leave the bedroom without some time to herself but assured that he would check up on her after having a proper conversation of the situation with Twilight and Cadance. Unfortunately for the kind man, he was denied leaving her alone to relax for as long as her fellow princesses would allow.

By the time she was soothed of her frustration, her wings would immediately wrap around his chest and pull him back into bed. Naturally, as any lonely mare, Celestia was given the to option to choose how she sees fit to snuggle and Marcus being with a serious disadvantage in strength be his downfall, but for his own desires, having the princess you kissed hold you like that was not so bad. He just wished he could have feeling back in his legs.

Celestia rested in the middle of the bed, nuzzling the man's neck, who would be more grateful if she did not decide to be on top of him. Both arms folded around her upper back and various movements of the fingers massaging the tight muscles in her wings. Normally it was impossible for anyone to get near her wings, let alone touch them. Celestia had a great deal of pride in her wings and was paranoid to have somepony come near them. Marcus was not 'some pony', however, and he had the right tools for removing the soreness in her wings. All that was left to do was ignore her moaning when he worked the muscles. Until then, he had to keep his mind elsewhere and tune out the satisfied princess. 

He was clearly flustered and ready to make a mad dash for the door, but that would have meant throwing the lovely mare off of him. Nothing was too obvious in his eyes as he worked on the base, and he'd like to look that way without her noticing for the time being.

"Your hands are so magical," Celestia's voice pierced the mental wall he built, making him flinch slightly with a loud gulp of nervousness. Turning his head away he focused on anything but the alicorn. Her snout drove deeper into the crook of his neck, her tail was curled around his right leg, and an expression of pure bliss was glued to her face. This was the first time that Marcus heard the mare express pleasure.

"This is going to be a long day," Marcus whispered. As Celestia drifted in her movement, fumbling on the man's exotic touch, she pressed his skin with a slight pinch and quietly whined when the tight muscles she'd spent weeks enchanting to be numb became loose and movable. She was in more paradise than before, and she expressed it with a tender lick to her nibble. Sadly for her human, this was only a small step in their 'friendship'.

Celestia waited in her own pleasure for him to cease the massage. She had felt that his fingers were trembling and slowing down with each stroke to her wings while grumbling to himself. Following that feeling, she used her weight to push his arms down to his sides. After all, having him under her was more than enjoyment.

The question was 'where were they right now as human and mare?' By his own action of kissing her before parting with bitter sorrow, but for having two years of distant talking, he seemed intent at having a friendship that is leveled by his desire for her. The connection could be stronger, but then again, she was very aware that friendship does not curtain the man's heart being hers. He was extremely faithful to begin with. He was not still here and without a mate of his own species, and if that was not enough proof, then there was the picture they took in the middle of the living room.

He could have thrown it away anytime or have never contacted me again. But these last two years have been a testament to his devotion for me. If it was anypony other than I who fell into his care during that winter, they would be very lucky.

She giggled at her human, who happened to be glaring away from her. Another thought came to her as she felt his hands adjust the more confidential areas of his body.

If I were to convince him to come back with me, would he be alright with me manipulating the system to make him a noble? I doubt he would since his pride is almost as thick as mine, but he has enough wealth to par with Mr. Rich. Then again, it must have been hard enough for him give up his lifestyle and I highly doubt he would trade his weapons for a life of luxury. It would be an insult to him if I were to pamper him. 

So many thoughts all running in the alicorn's mind, all running towards the same conclusion as she knew there was nothing to sugarcoat her desire. It was a headache to remember with so much about Marcus solely resting on the same fact she tried to work around. His pride as a man who worked hard to earn everything in his life was the setback.

Celestia nearly groaned in frustration when her thoughts spun back around to his pride for the fifth time. So many questions, so many fears, so many worries rushing through her head. She had to find a way meet him halfway, she needed the answer to convince him in coming with her to Equestria! 

With a sigh of defeat she rolled off Marcus, snuggling his left side without warning. I have many weeks to think about this. In the meantime, I'll just do what he does: Accept what is given to me without expectation.

She rested on that belief, and immediately felt his arms leave her as he sat up. Looking up to the shaggy-haired man, the Solar Princess followed Marcus after he stood up. She hopped off his bed and approached the closet when he disappeared inside, boxes turned over as she listened to each drawer inside slide open.

"I can't believe I forgot about that," she heard Marcus say, though with a bit of agitation in his tone. She watched as clothes were thrown out of the closet in the midst of his mad search for whatever. Clearly it was important. "I wasn't sure if you would ever come back, but I was going to try and send this to you by wrapping it up in the next letter."

That made the mare a little curious. She tilted her head and inside the doorway as he found what he was looking for. "I do not believe that my magic would materialize what you were going to send. I only use enough to protect the letters from the distortional ruptures that bridge our worlds together."

"Well I thought it would not hurt to try;" Marcus exited the closet with a small security box in his hands. Celestia noticed underneath the button dial a custom engraving that represented his lifestyle and frowned at him. He did not notice her expression though. "It's been a living hell for me to not have given you something for your birthday. We've talking through letters for two years now and it's been bugging me ever since."

Celestia smiled with the warmest of affection as he entered what she thought to be a combination. "You do not have to give me anything. I am just happy to see you again.

Marcus chuckled at her statement whilst opening the box. "Well you will think differently after I give it to you."

Whereas most men are simplistic with gifts and even the taste in material items were poor, this man's eye was sharp, a keen sense for similarity to her beauty that is nearly unrivaled. He was beset by the princess' reaction, thoughts and feelings. It was going to be memorable. He sharply was aware of her curiosity, a beautiful expression that shifted with her resting on his shoulder whilst staring down at the box. It was the first time he'd seen Celestia think over something else other than her own kingdom. Marcus was happy at the slow bloom of her 'pony', understanding she needed time to drop the façade. It made him a little more eager to give her the contents inside the box, to give her a piece of him so that when she returns home there will be a piece of him with her every day.

He removed the unimportant stuff from the box and gently pinched the objects between his fingers. Celestia gasped at what he held in both of his hands. The human she'd been kissed by and dreamt of since returning harm had spent his money on something she would not need. A part of her old-self, the spoiled teenager that loved jewelry, became part of her current self, unable to remain neutral on her own accord. She mentally squealed as the gleaming red and gold shone brightly in her eyes.

"Is this really for me?" she asked, leaving the large jewel untouched as he blushed. She was very flattered nonetheless, but if her birthday meant that much to him, then a ice cream cake would have sufficed. She forgot who she was supposed to be and became more of herself by taking the jewel into her magic. 

"Marcus, this must have cost you a fortune." Celestia exasperated, twirling the ruby rose. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts a stallion could give to her so selflessly. It nearly brought tears to her eyes. She looked back to her human looking away from to hide his blush, but not before she saw it. "Marcus, you did not have to do this for me. I do not need material objects to understand that you care for me."

The next thing she was aware of was Marcus looking down at the floor joy that was very obvious. It was almost heartbreaking to the princess to reject his generous gift, but she was quite used to disappointing stallions. Or human in this case. This was Marcus however. This was her Marcus. Her human. She could not say no or tell him to take the rose back to wherever he bought it; especially when he was making that cute look when he's embarrassed.

Too silent, too abnormal from the man he is. The Solar Princess leaned around and planted a soft kiss to his cheek, much more genuine than the smalls pecks she gives to some as her blessing. If she wasn't so wrapped up with her plan to win his heart, she might have noticed that he turned a little too late and brushed one side of his lips.

Marcus keeps silent until the sound of his princess' giggling come to his ear. He breaks away from the reality of almost kissing her a second time and watches, to some apprehension, her entire form fall on him.

"Thank you for this wonderful gift." Celestia whispered happily, nuzzling his red cheeks.

He smiled at her with a goofy quirk to his expression. He had fallen on his backside and tried to manipulate their position into something more comfortable. Hell, he would prefer being spooned or spooning the alicorn than to have her entire body on his! Not to say she was too big, which she was not, but Marcus did not enjoy having his arms and legs restrained. He had that done to him too many times and it had given him some trauma.

"So tell me; what did you plan on doing today, other than sleeping with my sister?" She asked in a vamp tone

Honestly, this alicorn was starting to push her luck. Celestia knew better than to beat him over the head about Luna being on top of him. Her beauty may be more divine than any woman he could use as a comparison, but that was going to a plus if she kept teasing him with this morning.

"That's not funny," he says bemusedly.

"You know I'm just doing that to see your cute reaction." Celestia says with best innocent voice, although it did not prove helpful since he knew which expression was fake or real. And pretending to be an angel that knows nothing certainly did not get her out of this situation.

"Flattering," he said flatly.

Celestia had to admit, whether she liked it or not, that her darling sister was not the same filly she remembered running through the old castle with no interest in stallions, just pranking some of the guards while they fell asleep on the job. She knew there would be competition with her sister for Marcus' heart, and therefore had to be two steps ahead of her for the entire visit. She didn't think it would turn out that way, but Luna revealed that humans are her taste too.

"Are you planning on leaving the house today?" she asked, smiling at the man as he struggled for freedom. His grunts and groans of frustration were adorable to the mare and it made her want to snuggle him some more.

"Well I was planning on going to the store tomorrow—" he got one arm free. Finally! That is until Celestia wrapped her wing around it.. "—But seeing as how you're going to stay for a few weeks I might as well go today to restock the fridge and have a bed for myself. The couch cannot be my bed the entire time."

Celestia grinned at the man as he muttered for freedom then wiggled his arm other free. "I'm going to accompany you when you leave." She said sweetly, but Marcus can tell that she was not interested in the world outside of his house.

"No happening," he told her sternly, the feeling of self-disappointment not fazing him as the alicorn gives him puppy eyes. He knew that one all too well. "Oh don't you try that one with me. I'm not falling for those eyes a third time. Forget it."

"Please?" Celestia multiplies the cuteness with a quivering lip, something she knew would make the man give in to her demand. Still, he was putting up a good resistance by closing his eyes, but that did not take away the image he had in his head.

He shook his head and growled. "I'm not going to risk your existence. I have enough to worry about with most of this country in shambles."

Celestia rolled her eyes and smiled, before breaking him down with the one thing he could not resist. "I have the power to camouflage myself as a human or take actual form of one." She reassured him, though with persistence as she nuzzled his lips. "Besides, I'll have to keep me safe. Just think about it—you and I spending time together." 

"If I am to go shopping I will need you to watch those three in there," he pointed at the door with the best of his ability, although it was not much since he has little to no free movement. "I trust you to watch those foals more than I trust your nieces." He coughed to clear his throat as the alicorn tilted her head in confusion. "Don't take this the wrong way or as an insult to your family, but from the letters you sent that spoke of what's happened in your world I feel that Twilight and Cadance may harbor ill thoughts about those three. Nightmare Moon is another story since it was a purification, as you had told me when you were here the first time, but Sombra and Chrysalis have done harm to kingdoms and to that stallion who is your nephew now."

"Shining Armor is his name," she clarified. "And I understand your perception of them. However—" She taps her chin repeatedly and smiles wickedly at the idea she had. This disturbs the human as she releases him. "You cannot leave without taking the foals with you."

Marcus gave her a goofy look of confusion as he sits up with the mare still on top of him. Celestia looked over to the door and listened to the soft whimpers that were growing by the minute. Clearly a certain unicorn of darkness was starting to panic because his father was nowhere, and you should never leave a newborn—or reborn in his case—alone with strangers.

Celestia leans down to watch the man's mind unravel when he heard a soft cry and two princesses trying to shush the colt. "A foal must never be left alone, for it is by instinct they know they're unable to protect themselves. Not only that, they're very clingy and require much love and affection. So if you leave me here to watch those foals you will still be giving them the complex that their father abandoned them."

Marcus was going to say something to that, but his mouth just kept opening and closing. He had nothing to counter and was at the mercy of this manipulative mare. It was almost regretful to have met this pony and have kissed her as she gave that little wink of victory.

"You're full of shit. You're bluffing. . ." A pregnant pause between the two, and a serious battle of stares while the crying increased with a certain alicorn filly calling out for him. 

"Marcus, you wound me with such an accusation," she laughed with restraint, and then pressed her nose against his. Such playful evil was in her eyes, and it quickly dismantled his courage. "I am the wisest of ponies. I possess more knowledge than you would find in a hundred scholars. I. Do. Not. Bluff."

For the first time in a very long time, Marcus was scared.

"So make a choice, my dear—" she leaned into his ear, her breath husky and hot as he listened. "Take me and the foals with you, and I will camouflage us. Or you can go by yourself and leave three adorable foals in my care, but at the cost of them despairing over their father abandoning them."

"But I'm not. . ." He barked.

Celestia scoffs at that. "They don't know that you're leaving for a little while, and they will not understand why you are going to leave. They're foals, mere babies that have no idea what's in store for them." She looks at him swooned, her hoof pressed to her forehead. "Oh the audacity for a father to leave his foals in the hooves of strangers. So young. So ignorant. What kind of monster abandons his foals for shopping?"

She could hear his teeth grinding. Finished with her dramatic manipulation, Celestia releases the man and finds the coat he tossed out of the closet for him to wear on the trip to the grocery store.

"Now I believe you know we have some things to purchase at your 'Wal-Mart', so I will prepare a spell that will shift the foal's and I's appearance before departure." She chortled whilst levitating his coat out in front of him.

Marcus snatched said coat and tossed it onto the bed while standing up to feeling back in his legs. Defeated and manipulated, he gave into the mare with deep sigh before making his way towards the bathroom. 

"I'll go wash up." He said after closing the door, the sound of running water coming to Celestia's ear as she opened the bedroom door.

She looked back towards the bathroom and giggled at the sound of her human cursing. "You'd best be quick if you do not want to have messes on your floor. Sombra will need diapers since he so young."

That got him to move a little faster. 

"IF HE SHITS ON MY FLOOR OR FURNITURE I SWEAR TO YOU, YOU MANIPULATOR, THAT I WILL RUB IT IN YOUR FUR!" He screams through the door.

Celestia laughs at that statement. "Such anger and attitude. That's what I love about you, my dear."


> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I just know this is going to be a pain in the ass."

Celestia smiled at the man adjusting his jacket before making the trip in town. She had informed her fellow princesses of the situation and requested that none of them attempt to follow in the dreadful winter or sneak into his car. Sadly for her, the word 'car' was as far as Twilight and Cadance got before their minds went blank from all the confusion that a car is. While Celestia had to give detail of the vehicle and its purpose, Luna decided to wake up and take it upon herself to search the house and see if there was anything interesting about Marcus. The awkwardness of seeing her sister show possessiveness for the human was nearly forgotten as she immersed herself into mystifying technology known as Television.

"It will be a good experience for everypony, and I will the chance to see how much your society has rebuilt itself in the last two years."

Rebuilt was all Twilight needed to hear as she watched her mentor nuzzle the frustrated man with love and joy, something she found to be strange since there was never a significant other in Celestia's life. Turning, the Princess of Magic found Marcus returning the favor with some apprehension. She watched with a careful eye as he stuff a brown object into his back pocket and another in the inside pocket of his jacket. This would not have been an abnormal thing if there was not a small engraving on the second fold of leather. That could only mean he was part of some group, but what was the question, and it ate at her while Cadance joined Luna in seeing what was on television.

"What was that you just put in your jacket?" Twilight pointed at him. She was never this curious before, but that man's strange behavior was throwing her way off.

"Oh that is just a bill fold I use for my identification. If I don't have it with me when I go into town, then I can't get in and buy groceries." Said Marcus as he glanced at Celestia for support.

"Identification," Twilight said with a tilt of her head before turning her focus to the princess. Confused and nervous, Twilight made her approach to the alicorn until she was in wings reach and looked up to her. "For what?"

"Don't you worry about that." Marcus chuckled, though a bit forcefully.

Celestia leaned down to her student and nuzzled her lovingly as the foals waited with some anticipation. "It is nothing to worry about. Our society is very different from human's. Just relax and enjoy the time you have while I go with him to see what this world is like."

"But what if they aren't friendly?" Twilight inquired. "This is a new world and we don't know what it is like out there."

"Twilight, you have nothing to worry about. Celestia is not going to get hurt because she will be in disguise." Marcus reassured before leaning down to pet her. It was a surprise to the pony, but there was power behind his fingers when they scratched her ears. "I'll admit that most humans would not be friendly since magic is a myth here and animals don't talk, but they won't find out." He took a breath and shrugged his shoulders, skepticism in his behavior. "Sure, we have poor judgment, but everyone is focused on rebuilding human society. So don't worry so much and have a good time while you're here."

"That doesn't help," Twilight said bemusedly as Marcus scooped into his arms a certain unicorn that was pawing his leg for attention. 

Marcus was going to need time getting use to being a father, again. But first and foremost, before his trip with Celestia, he had to find some means of entertainment for the young alicorn to, hopefully, take her mind off of the dangers she has in her head. Scratching his head in deep thought, he pondered the activities that may keep Twilight occupied as he walked around the living room with Sombra hanging onto his neck.

He looked from Luna and Cadance sitting quietly on the couch to the news channel ending for the afternoon. He was in deeper thinking before that spark of an idea came to him and he approached the television. Being in front of the large screen irked Luna and Cadance, for they were locked onto that channel with the biggest set of eyes. If they were any bigger they might pop.

"I've got just the thing," Marcus chirped as he opened the twin doors beneath the stand and pressed a slim button. Next thing the mares know is the button makes a beeping sound as he takes the remote and changes the channel input.

"What is that!?" Twilight jumped back in panic as she watched the device bring up a blue screen with colorful squares and what appeared to be titles on them.

Two small devices were pulled out of the stand and set in Marcus' other arm as he closed the doors. A warm smile escaped the man as he returned to Twilight and handed her one of the devices, pressing a small button to turn it on.

"Try some of human technology. Play some of the games I have downloaded on my PS4." He told her.

"But I don't know how to work this." She protested while Marcus made his way to the door with Celestia and the fillies behind him.

He did not look over his shoulder to see if she was trying. "Just use the left analog stick to scroll through the games listed. Press the blue 'X' button to select it. After that, start a new game and follow the tutorial."

Luna and Cadance murmured in shock as the purple mare did her best. Only bad part of it was she had multitasked with levitation in a few months, so pressing buttons and moving sticks was going to be a challenge.

Once the Solar Princess made her way into the garage, Marcus shut the door behind him and locked it, but not before Twilight said out of frustration, "Somepony just get me a book!"

"She's not going to do something reckless like destroy my PS4, is she?" Marcus asked as he unlocked his truck. He proceeded to set each foal in the backseat as he watched the princess eye it with apprehension. He wasn't sure, but something in his gut told him that she may have a problem getting back in the vehicle.

With a shake of her head, Celestia stepped away from the truck. "Twilight is many things, but destructive is not one of them."

"Okay," he shut the door after lifting Chrysalis into the backseat, her and her 'siblings' gazing through the window.

He approached as Celestia began to have second thoughts and put his hand on the back of her neck to comfort her. "Hey, are you sure you want to do this? You look a little uneasy."

"I'm fine, I just don't have good memory of riding in this contraption." Celestia smiled, though it was a bit forced. 

"You have no memory of riding in my truck," he laughed as he pat her neck. That made her blush. "You were unconscious when I got you in it."

Marcus ran his hand across her neck, soothing her anxiety—much to Celestia's surprise— and opening her door, her mechanical chariot awaiting.

The imposing alicorn locked eyes with her human, the latter having her handsome man with her who was quite the gentleman by leading her inside.

"I'll be right next to you the entire time." Marcus assured, though even his behavior turned on a dime. He seemed to have lost all manner of teasing and flirting. "It really is not as scary as you think it is," he smoothed over, helping her take the first step inside and attempting for the first time, to help her get comfortable. It was very difficult thought, seeing the mare finally take her seat seemed impossible, that if he was not hallucinating where he was at right now, he would have sworn that she was turning a new shade of red as he leaned around her.

"Okay, this is going to take more time than it did with those three. . ." he admitted, taking the liberty in fastening her seatbelt. She bit her lip and nervously shuffled her forelegs to block her private area from his view.

I hope he doesn't to— she stopped abruptly as her cutie mark was firmly grasped by the man. She was forced bite down on her tongue and resist the urge to moan while he moved her left leg a little so the seatbelt would lock in place. If he had paid any attention to Celestia's reaction he would see that she was a very sensitive pony.

We just got to see eachother again, but it feels so good when he touches me. Why?

"Do we have everyone?" Marcus asked rhetorically, playfully smacking the mare's cutie mark before closing the door, not even checking to see if she was alright. He stepped into the driver's side and started the engine while she gave him a mischievous smile, her magic coating the seat to remove the musk. He was very lucky that the princess found him to be adorable.

His eyes widened at the odd feeling of going into town with three ponies that will be in disguise, though it felt no different than driving her the first time. . . because he was now happy to have some time with her. He laughed out of giddiness and looked at her while his hand worked on the remote to the garage door. 

"What's with that smile?" he asked while she unfolded her wings and brushed his cheek with one.

"Just mull on that I will be getting back at you." She stated curtly, smacking his cheek lightly. Not waiting for him to get his ducks in a row, she tapped on the dashboard and leaned into the backrest, leaving the human to confused as to what she meant. "Onward in this machine, my dear."

Marcus quickly shrugged of the confusion and began his drive. "Into town we go."





Venturing to the nearest town through the snowy roads was a big ordeal, frustrating this time entirely to Marcus. The foals had been flabbergasted the world outside of Marcus' house being a large blanket of white, though every time they got close to the windows, they would hit their heads when he drove over a bump in the road. The uncomfortable sound of hearing the engine roar was gradually reduced over time when they realized it was not going to hurt them and even more so with Celestia holding onto the handle above her head. Although there was no need to worry, she was very nervous and worried that getting stuck in the snow might bring complications. Such more humans or predators that prowl in the winter. As such, she decided to hold onto Marcus rather than the handle, because being serious, he was more comforting than it.

"So, when are you going to tell Twilight, Cadance and Luna the truth?" Celestia asked as the two hugged one another in arm and wing. Other than getting a serious glare from her human, he paid not much attention to the subject, which she was not fine with. He was not supposed to leave her in silence on dangerous matters like that, even when they were talking through scrolls.

"I'll tell them in a couple of weeks," he replied, taking a good look to his left of a large wall coming close to merging with the road, but it stopped inches away and he looked up to see if snow was sticking at the top. Naturally, to remain oblivious to the wall, he would pretend to ignore it. When he heard the foals gasp, he tightened his arm around Celestia and looked to her for help, both knowing curiosity cannot be resisted.

"What's that big thing?" Nightmare Moon asked.

Unexpectedly his stomach lurched at that question. "That's the sanctuary wall for our society. It's to keep us safe from the outside world." He couldn't help the regret or the horror so stark in his eyes when he looked at Nightmare Moon through the mirror. He did not bother to try.

Celestia tightened her wing around him, nudging his shoulder with her chin. "Do not think about it too much. You put it all behind you."

The wind tore the atmosphere from them. As a very young foal with no idea what wind is like, Sombra snuck out of his seatbelt and scooted between Celestia and Marcus for security. Having two fillies and two disgruntled adults did not faze the colt as he hid not in the human, but the princess. He shrank down into the alicorn's underbelly, into the warmth of her body, so terrified to hear the blistering winds and watch the man struggle to keep the truck straight. 

Sombra whined when a gust hit the truck, and he dug deeper into the mare as she looked down at him in shock. Whatever Discord did to the unicorn had more impact than he let on. The thing Celestia didn't yet understand—and perhaps Marcus either—he was without knowledge of magic—the foal was relying on her to protect him. He should cling to Marcus and never let him go, so this trip into town would be terrifying enough to draw him closer to the man.

"Maybe the reformation was more successful than we think;" Marcus inquired, eyeing the scared colt while he nestled deep in the shadow of her form. "There are some animal cases where a newborn comes into the world without a mother to take care of them, so they latch onto the first female they see. Sometimes they will observe for a few minutes and latch onto the strongest."

Celestia was a little disturbed of that, he had to have seen Luna first. This did not sit well with her. She hadn't thought of being the strongest mare in the group. She was so used to portraying a very relaxed mare she hadn't considered that some ponies took her for a mighty being.

She didn't add anything to his statement or refuse Sombra her care. She was a little happy about it. Plus there was no ill intention in her observation. She closed her eyes and willed herself to lean down and nuzzle the frightened pony.

"It's alright little one," she cooed. "It is just the wind, and your . . . father will get us where we need to go—" she looked up to Marcus— "Safely."

"We'll be fine so long as I keep us steady on the road and you do your magic." 


*


The look in Marcus' eyes just now tore the alicorn away from the colt. At least she was aware that his behavior had meaning behind it and a reason for him to be that way. The blizzard was starting to open up, the wall separating from the road, shadows looming high above them the closer they got. She could almost feel the tension in her human.

"We're here," he told Celestia as he eased his driving and pulled out the wallet in his jacket. "Do your spell while we still have snow blocking everyone's eyes."

Marcus did not pay attention as she worked her magic on the foals first and then herself. A lemon yellow aura engulfed the foals and her  for a moment while he removed a secondary form of identification to go with his driver's license. Why he had to prepare forms of identification for the trip Celestia was not sure, but if what he told her in the past was true, then she was about to have serious insight about broken civilization.

The spell wore off, and she was without breath for a moment. "The illusion is finished. Nopony other than you will see past the spell."

Marcus nodded in gratitude, but was totally nervous. They had made it through the blizzard to the front gate, but the situation had depleted his energy. Having three foals show up at his doorstep and four princesses magically appear had taken all he had, which in turn had weakened his mental state a little. He would have to try harder to keep the façade and not set off any suspicions, but he could not be in any more danger with lying and try to get the worst of those jobs hanging on the bulletin board on the other side of the gate.

He stopped with inches between the front of his truck and the guardrail. The sound of footsteps took his breath as he connected fully with Celestia and the foals. He had hoped himself prepared—after all, he knew what to expect and had leverage on his side—but there was no good way to explain having passengers should he be questioned. He let the fear burn through him in an effort to acclimate himself.

"Okay, listen up," he turned to Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon in the back. "A guard is going to come by and ask for my identification and who you all are. Just let me do the talking, and don't freak out when he uses his scanner on you."

"What is a scanner?" Celestia asked while a man in uniform approached, with a shotgun in hand. She heard everything from Marcus the variety of guns, and it brought flashbacks of him using one to protect her.

"It's something they use to see if you're infected, so don't worry." Marcus replied.

That made her curious. Why would there need to be a process for entry and then be allowed inside an area that holds necessities?

"I'm going to be blunt with you, Celestia. Security has been uptight for the last two months because the number of survivors is decreasing. We're getting more infected than regulars, and everyone is starting to wonder if there will be an outbreak within the wall."

Marcus did not wait for her reply. He lowered his window before the guard could tap on the glass. The men that stood on posts with military rifles had their crosshairs on him and the princess. No new greeting had come from the guard standing at his door with his gloved hand open, but the ones that were on the ground, those who new Marcus, did wave at him before their commander could see it happen. Celestia didn't know what to do other than appear as a human girl holding what appeared to be a baby with a serious dislike of the wind. Trusting her human to keep them safe, she fought the urge to manipulate the guard's mind.

"A little chilly out here, isn't it?" Marcus asked in a monotone.

The guard responded with attitude the same as the weather, as cold as he was, almost as if he was not alive.

"Just a precaution, but state your name and business here." The man replied, his voice tuned behind the mask. He looked up to Celestia and the 'baby' in her arms. If he was not wearing his mask right now, they would have seen how shocked he was by how beautiful the woman is next to Marcus. He then turned Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon. "I also need to know about those four, but not from you. I need to hear it from her."

"Right," Marcus nodded with some reluctance. "Marcus Vegora. Retired runner from the Pillaging Team in 1-A."

"Yeah, you're uncle is Jackson Vegora." The guard nodded. "Told me all about why you quit the job." He turned to Celestia and pointed at her. "I don't know you, so I need to know why you're with Mr.Vegora."

"My name is Tia Del Sol, and these are my. . . children." Celestia said calmly, with a silver tongue. She found herself smiling at the guard as she leaned into her 'caretaker', hoping that he would buy her white lie. "Marcus is my. . .significant other, and we are here to purchase groceries, mainly diapers for the little one."

"The boy in your arms and those two in the back," he replied coldly. "Are they your kids?"

"Yes, they are his." Celestia chirped, which threw off the guard a little. "But I do hope to replace the mother that left this lovely family for a different male."

Marcus winced a little and turned to the princess with a shaky stare. The guard then turned his gaze towards the man taking back his cards. "Yes, I suppose Mr. Vegora deserves someone in his life after the last ran that went south on him."

Marcus knew this moment would come. He had hoped it would come much later. Pressing his lips together he hung his head in shame, even though he didn't have any fault in the incident. Celestia was quick to notice this and began to worry while the guard took it upon himself to lean in and pat him on the back. 

"Hey, don't dwell on that day. You did what anyone would have done." He infused absolute compassion into his voice. He believed Marcus did the humane thing and had no reason to feel guilty for it. He would have said that, but did not have justification.

"Anyway," he retreated then reached behind his back, removing a small device that glowed a sickly green. "You'll be free to go as soon as you pass the scanner." He raised it to Marcus first. "Just look at me and we'll have this done in a minute." 

It was silent at that point. Celestia and foals found themselves under quick surveillance, sitting perfectly still in the green light as it flashed between each of them and threw up a loud beep seconds after. After it passed her last, she stared up at the security overhead. The men gently moved across the towers, setting their guns down as soon as the man in scanning them gave a thumbs up.

"Okay then," he said in more enthusiastic tone. In spite of the change in his voice, Celestia knew he sounded hollow. She'd only felt such emptiness from others throughout her years. "You're free to go in and get what you need." He ordered the guardrail to be raised with a command of his hand movement. "Have a nice time in Lazarus and stay out of trouble."

Marcus, in spite of his conscience, and pain towards the past, couldn't help the extra speed he put into his entrance as the guard's inconsideration. He was very unhappy as the guardrail shut behind him. So many people watched with little as he made his way down the first street. He hated the look Celestia was giving him. He hated everything in that expression she wore.

Concern.

"You really were telling me the truth," she said seriously before shaking her head in disbelief. "I. . .You. . .When did your people resort to a place such as this?"

Marcus was not one to keep secrets from the princess. Reluctantly, he said, "When the first outbreak happened."

> Chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pedestrians and oddly armored guards walked into sight as Celestia watched through the window for a better view of this unknown town. Collapsed homes, humans fighting with one another and machines beyond her wildest imagination rang through while the trip she enforced with Marcus came to a slow drive with him paying close attention to certain people in suits. She followed his gaze to these people entering from beyond the wall with some of their comrades on stretches. She could not see very well through the blizzard, but from what her eyes could make out, there seemed to be one or two humans flailing on the stretchers as medical staff rushed to their aid.

The screams were terrible in her ears, the screeches reverberating through the window, but she had heard such pain overtime and learned to endure it. Still, her curiosity was peeked by these agonizing humans screaming their heads off as they were held down and worked on. She could not help wonder what it was that had them so violent.

Disturbed by it, she turned to Marcus and proceeded to speak when—

"They're a group of runners, soldiers that go beyond the wall to find supplies or people that are not infected." He said so suddenly, in a hollow a voice. His eyes diverted from the path ahead to the unfortunate men suffering as they were carried into the medical building. He sighed and shook his head. "Seems that a couple of them were not so fortunate."

Celestia frowned at the scene. "Will they be alright?"

"If the incident happened within six hours of their time beyond the wall they'll get a few shots and volt therapy to kill the bugs." He answered, and then glared at his path, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. "If it was longer than that, then they have no choice but to isolate the victim. Sadly, when that happens you have the option of being put down before or after you turn."

"Is there not a cure?" the alicorn asked, caring for his people. She wrapped a loving wing around his arm. "Do they need help seeking a way to end the infection?"

Marcus shook his head. "It's not that simple Celestia. The nanites that were designed to control and enhance the disease after it was implanted. But the laws of science are not dictated by us. In our own ignorance we helped it mutate into something unique, something that is both living and mechanical. And thanks to infection wiping out our best doctors, the only chance of survival is by sending the victims to volt therapy."

"Therapy or torture?" She glared him deeply. She was no fool to the similarity of therapy and torture. She was the last one to try and fool when the well-being of others comes to the actions of physical recover. 

Marcus sighed, though apprehensively whilst turning into a parking lot. He stopped in the closest parking space and shifted the car into park before locking eyes with the solar princess. His gaze was not very kind to Celestia, but she knew he was being very serious with her about the epidemic his race faces.

"Tia, let me remind you of man's nature," he started in a dark tone. "Because of humans being at war with one another, we made something meant to destroy our enemy. But through unforeseen circumstances it came back, bit us in the ass, and has dropped eighty-five percent of the population." He pointed at the medical building. "The doctors we have left don't have time to find a cure that will end this for good. They're too busy making medicine and various antibodies to ensure the survival of our remaining women. Nine percent of our remaining population is female, so our sole focus is protecting them."

A sense of grief swept through Celestia. She wasn't sure to understand this downfall and now she doubted if her help would do any good. She had to remind herself that the advancement in technology was far superior than that of her world. While familiar with the subject of guns, she had to remember that the most advanced firearm in Equestria was a crossbow, and those are never taken out of the armory unless war was to break out in her country.

Still, given that this life Marcus has disturbs her, she wanted to away from her life without anypony realizing how dangerous it was to be here until it was time for to return—with the foals and Marcus of course.

In the silence they waited, staring at one another, counting the seconds ticking by, both knowing this little trip to the grocery was more awkward by the circumstances of their relationship. Though the term of friendship fit well, the countless letters made something more between them. A deeper connection brought Celestia closer to the man than she would ever have thought possible. After what seemed like an eternity of staring into his eyes, she gave into her thoughts and desires. She squeezed Marcus' arm. She looked deeply, her eyes sparkling, like the stars, a signature of her divine power.

"Before you take us inside, would you let me do something?" She breathed the words lightly, accompanied by the innocent look and feelings for him. "Before I returned home you kissed me and said you hope that one day we would meet again."

"Yeah, I did." He admitted, though a little apprehensively. He blushed as she used her magic to remove her seatbelt, and scooted closer. He was very nervous now. "Celestia, what are you up too?"

She blushed with him but kept herself under control, her wing pulling him to her. "You gave me the truth to your feelings for me, but I was unable too." She came inches from her target. "And since Luna is not around to bother us, I would like to return the favor with how I feel for you."

Celestia could see he was confused and worried, until she made her mark on his lips and took him into both of her wings, raising herself so it was her who towered in the kiss. This is very sudden for him, but our two years talking and the many confessions in our letters is enough for me to do this. Besides, I've been wanting to do this ever since I found the ritual that would help me return.

A solid ten seconds, and she broke away from him. Seeing how shocked he was made her giggle. "You did tell me you were curious about how my feelings are for you, and now you have your answer."

Marcus slowly nodded his head, indicating that she was correct. The taste had yet to leave his tongue. 

"Yeah. . . but I did not expect that to happen for a long time or ever. Are you sure this is fine?" Before he could open the door to make his escape, realizing it was dumb of him to ask, Celestia pulled him back in the car and just held him for a moment. 

"I have been very sure for weeks." He felt warm and soft, his body fitting her tall and voluptuous one, bringing a soothing balm to herself. "Plus I want to make my mark so Luna does not steal you from me."

Marcus laughed deeply and allowed the princess rub her cheek gently over his chest, taking care to keep the moment featherlight, but he felt her warmth through his entire body, a gossamer sensation that reached deep inside and melted the chill on his heart. She did not retreat, so ran his hand down the back of her neck.

"I've missed you," she whispered.

He grinned then pecked the top of her head, feeling it was right.

"I missed you too."

Minutes went by before Celestia let him leave the truck. She watched him struggle into a standing position, amused at how slippery the ground was. As a mare with no responsibilities she knew how to laugh naturally, and as her human cursed the entire time of retrieving a cart, she had become more Celestia than Princess Celestia. She needed this healing inside and out. She also desperately needed the rejuvenating companionship of this man, to have reason to smile for her own.

Marcus picked up the pace, jogging slightly in the snow, just enough that he had balance and to extend his strides to hurry back to the truck. He had a difficult time stopping his feet on solid ground. He concentrated on keeping feet from hitting patches of ice.

"This is a nightmare," he grunted, opening the door and taking the keys out before grabbing the foals. "Ten fucking years of solid winter and you would think someone found a way to keep the roads and parking lots from icing over." He reached for Sombra first, tucking the giggling colt inside his shirt while Celestia helped with Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis. He glowered at the alabaster alicorn giggling at him. "I don't suppose you could use your magic to melt the snow and ice, right?"

To his dismay, Celestia shook her head.

"If I did that I would run out of magic, and having no sun to help me recharge makes it very difficult." She looked up to the sky, smiling. "Besides, it's much more fun to have some difficulties in life. I especially enjoy watching you slip and fall numerous times."

He frowned as she came to his side, both fillies on her back, although it appeared to his fellow humans that she was holding hands with two little girls.

"You have a twisted sense of humor."

The innocence in Celestia's eyes curled slightly, and she winked at him. She then emphasized her opinion on the matter coyly and as an adult.

"The wickedness of mare is not judged by her actions, but by what she says. And I have plenty to say while I am here with you."

"I suspect that means you are talking about when we are alone," he questioned.

Celestia nodded her head.

Marcus sent Celestia one silent lustful look, turned his hand into her wing and quietly walked through the parking lot, striding with her, the depth of his breath the only thing that gave his intrigue. There was no doubt in either of their minds that he intended to mean what he wrote in some of the letters and make this time with her last for as long it will. 

Once inside, Celestia could barely contain herself at the store. She could hardly look around the oversized market without feeling too curious for own good. Had she been able not too, she knew she would have taken herself through every inch, but she was not going to wander off and leave him with the foals. The various glance however, did serve some reminder to her that she'd stick out amongst the humans; albeit a little too much.

Marcus was too concerned about everyone looking him then to Celestia, whispers about his rare appearance getting to him as the princess did the only thing she could do. 

"Hello," she waved with her other wing, although it appeared to the humans a woman that was being too friendly. 

Every man passing by found this woman beyond gorgeous. They couldn't even get past that she was so busty underneath her coat.

She even had some women cursing under their breath.

Marcus knew for a fact that Celestia would be the hype around Wal-Mart. How he would get the things he needed, he did not know, but he was going to give his damn best to buy everything on his list and get the hell out of dodge before someone working under his uncle sees him there. So, god give him strength.

"This is going to be a pain in the ass," he said flatly, and set Sombra in the cart before pulling Celestia along. "Let's get in and out of this place."

Celestia turned her attention, her eyebrow cocked as the whispers died behind her. After looking to her left and seeing her illusion in a nearby mirror, she realized what had Marcus so troubled.

"I suppose my appearance has drawn too many eyes. . ."

"You have no idea," he replied with a hard nod. "Women around here don't look like something you'd only see in a movie."

"Does it bother you?"

"No."

"Then why are you troubled?"

"I'm worried we'll draw too much attention. I do have a reputation of being a hermit, and having you with me makes everyone more curious than usual."

"You don't have many friends, do you?"

"I told you in a letter that I lost all my friends in our last mission."

Celestia remained silent and thoughtful, placing her wing from his arm to his back and nuzzling his cheek, which did more than make everyone around them curious.

Again, Marcus was frustrated with this idea, but he had to stop and remind himself that she was not going to leave him alone very often. Two years. Two very long years of loneliness and the mare he fell for returned just to see him, and he disregarded that on the fact of people being interested in him possibly finding someone to settle down with.

He sighed. That was an absolute and nerving the alicorn. Looking at her calmly, he gave the mare a rare tone, but meant to be serious when he used it. Very few, not even what little family he has left, heard him talk like that.

"I'm sorry," he pressed his hand to cheek caringly. "I'm thinking about how strange it is for you and I to be in here together when I should be thinking of the many things we will doing while you're here." He looked away, but could not hide the frustration in his eyes. "It's just. . . there are so many thoughts going through my head. I'm worried that I will draw too much attention, and you or these three will get hurt."

His words to her well-being and the foals only made her adore him more.

A kiss to the cheek and he was blushing again, eyes of jealousy locked onto him in rapid succession, the scene so obvious as she whispered in his ear.

"Forget your people staring at us, and don't worry about the foals and me. The illusion is strong and I have plenty of magic for if something does happen." She emphasized her affection to those staring with another nuzzle to his cheek. "Besides, we talked about this in our letters, and this is what we want. So let's enjoy our time together and ignore them."

Marcus knew the moment he remembered his reason to their relationship that things would be better for him. He'd found why he should smile and was hot on the path to a life of happiness. He grabbed the alicorn's wing and guided her.

"Alright, first thing we need is to grab some diapers for Sombra."

The first thing Celestia saw beyond the many humans is the most visited aisles in the store.

"What are those items in that direction?" She pointed towards the only aisle that is completely pink.

"Those are toy aisles," he pointed to the aisles across the path, although she was focusing on the toys still. "And over there is the electronics aisle. From games to televisions, you can find most of what you need in there."

Celestia craned her neck at the fillies quietly awing on her back. "Should we not find toys for the little ones to play with?"

That lit a spark in the fillies' eyes.

"TOYS!"

Marcus glanced at them over hi shoulder. Their eyes were sparkling with hope. "We'll go to the toy aisle after getting everything else. Which reminds me, there should be someone around here that can ready everything for a bed and have it at the loading area."

"That reminds me as well," Celestia chirped. "Do you have enough—oh what was is it—money for what is needed to accommodate three fillies and four mares?"

Marcus smiled proudly at her. "Did I ever tell how I made my millions?"

She shook her head. 

"Well, after the infection became public news, chaos spread across California. When it started turning everyone, I chose to pillage houses rather than go out and raid everyone for provisions."

Celestia was not amused by this story.

"I hope you did not hurt anypony. If you did, this would change things between you and—"

"No, I did not hurt anyone." He interrupted, taking a left turn into the baby aisle. "Those who turned, I pillaged their homes and found all the necessary information I needed to transfer their money into an account of my own." 

He eyed a large package of huggies and continued. "You'd be surprised how many people leave their social security numbers and bank information in shoe boxes."

"Isn't that stealing?" she glared at him.

Marcus shook his head then continued his path. "You can't be stealing from someone if they're already turned. And once you have turned you won't need it anymore."

Celestia could not fight that logic, knowing very well what the infection does to humans. How could she ever forget, it was the first subject that came to light when she was comfortable enough to snuggle next to him during her banishment. She took the matter of his actions lightly, understanding he had to find some way to survive through the nightmare his people brought upon themselves.

"I'm not proud of it Celestia, but a man has to do what must be done to survive. Besides, I was very lucky that currency still exists to this day. If it had died during the breakout, I'd probably be dead since I had so little in my old life. You remember what I told about my old self, do you?"

"Of course," she nodded, and then a thought came to her. "Speaking of which, did you stop smoking those paper sticks like I requested?"

Marcus gave her a sheepish grin, and the princess gave him a stern glare whilst passing by some humans.

"Marcus," she drawled sternly. "Did you stop?"

"Well," he paused, scratching the back of his neck. "I did, but I switched to the vaporizer." That did not help with her glaring at him like a mad mare. "Hey, it's much better than smoking cigarettes. It's just nicotine and water vapor."

"You're going to stop while I'm here."

. . .

"I made a grave error," Derrick said, avoiding Celestia's puppy eyes as she all but begged for something sweet to go with the list.

"Everything here smells so wonderful," she whined, unable to decide which package she wanted to take with her. "Can't we just get on of everything for me to taste?"

Derrick shook his head, causing her to pull out the quivering lip and crocodile tears. 

"I told you no, we're here for groceries. If you want something sweet you have to choose one."

"But they all smell so good, and I haven't had anything sweet in hours." She complained, setting every package she pulled on the shelf back where they belong.

"There must be a compromise to this," he muttered, and then it hit him. How could he have forgotten biggest weakness? "Look, Celestia, if you don't choose anything here then we will stop at the bakery for cake. It can be another birthday present since I missed out on the last two."

Oddly enough to him, she squeaked with excitement and returned to his side, albeit a little too forceful with holding his hand.

Vanilla cake with chocolate frosting is my favorite." She chirped in his ear.

"Ever had ice cream cake?"

"What's that?"

"Ice cream that is put inside the cake and frozen until it ready to be eaten."

Her eyes widened a large as the grin growing across her cheeks.

"THAT'S GENIUS!" 

. . .

"Why are we here?" The princess asked as Marcus sorted through the racks of clothing, tossing coats, sweats, and long sleeve shirts onto Sombra's head. She stared at the colt to find he was enjoying himself, giggling and making bubbles to passing strangers that adored him.

Marcus held up a large coat in front of her. "You can shrink these, can't you?"

She nodded.

He continued. "Well even if you have magic to keep you warm you, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight will need to have warm clothes. It's far too cold for you to rely on just magic."

His thoughtfulness to her and her fellow alicorn made her heart stutter a little. 

The remaining clothes he had in mind were tossed into the cart, and they were off again. Strangely, Marcus felt calm the way he did when he was around her the first time. This was so weird to him and even as their connection seemed a little too strong, he was more content with himself than he'd ever felt these last two years. Had he been alone while shopping he would have grabbed what he needed without a word to say. Still, he had to give the princess credit for pushing his boundaries and carry no doubt that even now, with the way they are, he would be more open with her.

"Marcus," he heard her call from behind, but more distantly than she should.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw her looking at the last thing he would ever expect her to be holding. His blush returned, and his pants became a little tight.

"What are these for?" She gently pulled the elastic, mesmerized by how stretchable they were.

He coughed into his hand to clear his throat, and then took the clothe from her to put them back. Nonetheless of it being too small for her, his mind drifted to things that should not be imagined.

"Those are women's panties," he answered in a nervous tone. "Much like men having underwear, these are for females."

Much to his dislike, Celestia became curious and was allured by how embarrassed it must have been for him to see his friend holding up such a thin fabric for all to see. While Marcus muttered, she searched through her mind the ideas of what she could find in this store to lure him and came up with a plan that had been part of her dreams of him in the past.

Celestia leaned on his shoulder and reached for a lick to his cheek. "Marcus, does lingerie exist in this world?"

He choked on his own breath.

This is going to be a long trip.
> Chapter 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marcus stood grim in the east section of Walmart, dislike clearly visible in his eyes as he watched Celestia rummage game after game in the electronics. His eyes drifted from her curves to her narrow, careful eyes reflecting in the glass as he rocked Sombra; calmed him after his first horrifying diaper change in the men's restroom. "If there was ever a day where I wished for someone to give me amnesia. . ."

"I see no value or importance in these video games you purchase," Celestia said, holding two cases she personally picked out to examine. "What reason would there be to animate violence that is bent and manipulated at your disposal?"

A low chuckle escaped the man. "It's a substitution of the real thing. Take our soldiers for example; men who were raised to be runners. They're trained to their breaking point and turned into killing machines so that when they go beyond the wall they are ready to kill an infected without hesitation."

"That doesn't help me understand," said the alicorn, staring into his reflection.

Marcus nodded his head with a groan. The assumption was too familiar, and he felt judged as the groan slipped. "Let me put it like this; would you rather have someone kill a real person or kill a digitally crafted character that is not real?"

He could see the realization in her eyes, and her curiosity come out. This was no the reaction he had anticipated, and it amused him. His intentions brought forth a small push of the mare's boundaries, but it was more of an observation than to have her try to like what he enjoys. It was with standing up and taking one of the games from Celestia that he had the idea to see how far this would go. Make no mistake though, part of him lurched in disgust of himself as he parted with his conscience. He smiled down at the case as he gave her a bit of teasing.

"This is a good one, and it's one of very few people dare to play," he began. "I'm surprised you wanted to look at this, considering how easy it is to scare you."

A deep snort of irritation left the alicorn. "I never said I was not interested in your methods of entertainment, just a little boggled by it."

"Shall I explain this game to the mighty Celestia?" he mused, invoking her agitation as cocked an eyebrow.

She growled then joined him to read the description on the back, carefully avoiding to upset the tired Sombra.

"Just explain, please."

"Okay then, so this is based off a Japanese horror story that is supposedly true. The premise of the game is you journey through different areas searching for clues while trying to avoid the dark entity that is trying devour you. It's not a violent game like the other one you have in your wing, but it is freaky. I played it once and almost crapped myself."

Celestia had a thought come to her as Marcus stared at her, waiting for her approval or rejection of the game as people walked past them with disgruntled looks of her 'beauty'.

"How can such a story exist when your world is in shambles?"

"I didn't know you were that perspective," the compliment made her blush as she listened to his chuckling. "But you're right, my world is in shambles. This was a horror story that was based out of fear before the collapse of humanity. It's as dead as the infected."

The alicorn nodded. "It's caught my attention. Perhaps it would be nice to participate in these video games."

Marcus gave her a quiet laugh.

"What is so funny," she said defensively. "Just because I'm a mare doesn't mean I cannot partake in your activities. I do enjoy a good fright every so often."

"Besides," she continued, holding his hand lovingly. "I would enjoy a dark evening of attempting this game; especially if you are at my side, in the dark, frightened with me."

He was getting the hint.

"You're really desperate to spend some alone time with me, aren't you?"

Celestia watched him turned red. Her desires were partially sated and she knew if Marcus could be ensnared and Luna's distaste for ghostly creatures, then she could obviously get her time with Marcus and have nopony to bother them. Perhaps even tonight with a blanket to snuggle in and the fireplace to warm their atmosphere. She was prepared to use dirty tricks against her sister if it meant getting this man all to herself.

"I haven't seen you in two years," she cooed with a vampish grin. "You figure it out."

Although the answer was quit obvious, Celestia could sense his confusion with how he always looked away to think. But why? What was there to think about when it was a clear as day what her motives were?

She had a grin growing to wide as she stroked his thigh to rack his nerves. It was cute to see him so flustered over such little hints. "Is my big-bad human embarrassed by how his mare wants to spend some alone-time with him?"

His face scrunched. He never expected Celestia to be so open with him about intimacy or actual teasing. He only wanted to relive the moments when they were casual and unafraid to talk about their lives to pass the time. His free arm tightened when she clasped it with her wings, nearly pulling him off his balance.

He sent the alicorn a warning glare. "I'm still not used to all of this."

Celestia shook her and kissed him, amusement in her eyes. "Well you have plenty of time to adjust." The smile turned sadistic from her eyes gazing down at the clothes in the extremely full basket, temptation showing—and a little mischief. "Marcus, I just remembered you telling that this is not the best store for clothing."

Marcus raised a suspicious eyebrow to the princess. "What are you implying Tia?"

Celestia did not play him softly, but forced the matter, her inner teenager coming alive, taking control to try to find the best method of owning the man before her sister could.

"I am a mare who has been deprived of her teenager years." She leaned into his ear and whispered. "I want to shop for clothes that you would not find me wearing often."

Marcus had to pull out his wallet and check his fairly used debit card for this one. He shed a single tear and kissed the plastic for it's upcoming heroic duty before saying one last thing to honor it.

"You've been scanned hundreds of times. Now you're final test has come."

. . . 

The journey was long and treacherous for the brave hero of Celestia's reign of selective shopping. Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis kept Sombra entertained, while Marcus stood in the corner with every woman in the shop staring at his companion with jealousy and disgust in their eye. Running through a decrepit full of zombies, killing anything that has the infection—that was much easier than this new job he had going on because of his mare.

She's trying to kill me with embarrassment, He glared at the clerk past him to avoid another encounter of the "woman" with multicolored hair, knocking her into a wall with her plump rear. If I make it out of here without drawing too much attention I will be surprised.

"Oh honey~" Celestia called out in a musical tune, stepping out to reveal that the oversized clothing she picked was a perfect fit. Of all the things for her to pick though, Marcus could not look at her properly without blushing in humiliation of the cultural standards in proper attire being generations apart with this pony.

She gave him a twirl and winked seductively, uncaring of how uncomfortable he'd felt. "I think this looks good on me."

"Honey?" He paid no attention to her ridiculous outfit as it did what he tried to avoid. "Since when did you decide to call me that?"

"Since the day you kissed me," Well at least she was honest with him. "Besides—" she hugged him tightly, giddiness in her voice while the scene made some women pretend that they were nonexistent. "I'm your marefrend, and it's your job to endure these things."

"So long as it doesn't hurt my budget," he muttered.

"Oh that looks cute," Celestia walked fast to the rack on her right, bumping humans out of her way as though they were not there. Marcus wanted to respect her wishes of acting normal in the open world, but she was making it hard with her childish antics.

Unfortunately that meant cutting her time in the store, and he was not ready to sadden the only creature in the entire universe that makes him happy.

"This is very cute," he caught her eyeing a blue beanie that made her stick out in the open. Women watched as the poor fabric "mysteriously" grew a large hole in the middle of Celestia's forehead, and quietly walked away in confusion and worry that she was not normal.

Marcus couldn't take it anymore. He took the foals and marched to her. The danger in being discovered was the princess might become too fond of acting like a normal pony. She had forsaken all parts of her younger-self, embracing a monarch, but it was now impossible to tame a princess that loved being spoiled.

"Celestia, could you keep it down?" Marcus had to pull her from the mirror to get her attention. "You're kind of making a scene, and no one is liking it."

"But we are here to shop," Celestia said, matching the intensity of her human with careless flippancy. "Can I not enjoy myself?"

"Yes, you can," he whispered then looked around to see no one was watching now. "Listen, I know you want to spend all day exploring the stores, but we have to get back before the food spoils. And I'm not too sure that your friends will take kindly to you being gone so long."

Celestia thrust a wave of her hoof at the man, looking away from his eyes. "They are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, and I'm having too much fun." 

Marcus was about to argue with her when he noticed in the corner of his eye a looming shadow in the distance. He retracted slowly from his humming mare and kept a small gaze on the person in black watching him. He took a slow turn to the mirror and noticed in the reflection a woman with a heavy overcoat watching Celestia collectively.

The silence and suspicion was over in a short space of time. The woman rustled the inside of her coat with her right hand and began to approach. Marcus looked to Celestia for his own confirmation before turning to the woman, eyeing her dangerously. She stopped dead in her tracks when she realized that beneath the cold stare of this man was no distance between him and her. He was already standing next to her with the barrel of a gun near-perfect to her liver.

"Do yourself a favor and walk out of this store and forget about me," Marcus whispered, giving a fair warning with the safety clicking off when she tried to reach for her own. "Seriously, don't pull some rookie stunt just because my uncle assigned you to watch me. Tranquilizing my woman or my kids will end with a bullet lodged in your liver."

He pushed the barrel harder into the woman's side, making her grunt with pain.

"Leave. Now. And tell my uncle to mind his own fucking business."

Marcus allowed the woman a moment to think. Being a man of some moral and devoted to Celestia gave him all the time to remember why he was a person as well as a creature that can be merciful. But as the silence from this woman went on, the less patient he became. He was already getting worried that Celestia and the foals were left alone for too long, and he had less time to think over it. He couldn't show too much kindness.

A breath of relief left his lungs when the mysterious woman took her leave without saying a word. He wasn't anywhere near ready to fight and he doubt he could equal her in close combat. He wanted to go back home after this, but seeing how happy Celestia was made it all the better to endure the pain of watching try on every piece of clothing that would fit her.

And painful it was for him to endure the time, counting the minutes passing sluggishly, knowing any moment the joyful mare in front of him would have outfit after outfit for him to give an opinion on.

She's worth the trouble, He exhaled the words into the back of his mind and swept his gaze over the giggling alicorn approaching him with a surprise in store. If there was a fraction of dignity left in him, it was trying to start a war between the head on his shoulders and the head between his legs. He doubted if the throbbing in pants had a chance at something like that, but it was fun dreaming about it.

"Isn't this so adorable, Marcus," Celestia continued aloud, "but I would prefer if it was not so tight around my plot. Perhaps it can be adjusted when we return to your home."

Marcus gave a slight nod, indicating he wasn't opposed to the idea. He, like most men, had a thing for women in such clothing. He just wished she would not try to wear such things in the public of the store.

"Tia, you're wearing lingerie." He told her with a devious grin, knowing what would come next.

"Is lingerie the same in our culture?" Celestia asked with a blush, looking at the man embarrassingly.

"If involves sex behind closed doors, then yes."

"Oh. . ." She coughed to remove the lump of fear in her throat. "Well I suppose I should put this back."

"Oh no," he shook his head and laughed. "Please try on other pieces. I'm starting to like it. I may even take a few pictures and save them to my phone."

"Marcus," Celestia sent him a warning glare along her path to the rack she found her attire. "It would be in your best interest not to take pictures of me in this clothing."

He held his phone up to the princess for a good shot of her backside. "Come now, honey, I'm sure the nobles in your world would love to see a lingerie picture of their princess."

"Don't you dare!"


> Chapter 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marcus was no man to the idea of mares being in his house, but that did not mean he had to be particular with Celestia.

Back at home and finally out of the cold, he had a list of chores in his head and a large weight of groceries dragging him down from over-encumbering himself to impress his gorgeous princess, with whom he found to be having quite a laugh at seeing how red he was from carrying all of the heavy stuff inside while she dropped the illusion and levitated the lighter bags into the kitchen. And as it came to pass, the antics of a free and mischievous mare started with teasing and a bit of sarcasm at how he appeared to be as red as the stallion known as Big Macintosh.

Other than for the occasional bumping of her flanks from every run into the garage for more groceries, he had a solid wall in his mind and a will of iron. He made no conscious effort or attempt to return the favor. He preferred that Celestia would show her feelings and interest with the childish games she had been playing to get under his skin.

But much to his dismay, he'd forgotten that one other mare in his house had the same feelings for him and the same idea as her sister.

He quietly thought to himself how Luna was going to be the death of him. If it wasn't going to be Celestia doing something insane from her obvious case of jealousy, then it was going to be him going insane or having a stroke from all of the stress.

"I was not aware of you being so strong," Luna cooed, intentionally nuzzling Marcus' arm in front of her sister, who had teeth grinding and eyes blazing the fury of the devil.

She then grinned evilly at Celestia whilst spinning slowly around the man to drag herself against his skin. Marcus could only pray to god that Luna would cease her motives soon and find someone for herself. He was not the kind of person to be shared or borrowed.

Fortunately, the princess of day remembered their trip to the electronics section in Walmart and had an idea. Like a dog digging for their buried bones, she went into what Cadance and Twilight could call her obsession mode, and pillaged through the bags for a few items she read in the canterlot archives to be key for intimacy.

"Gotcha," quipped the desperate pony quickly taking the movies out of their bag.

She then darted to the foyer of the house as Marcus returned with the mattress and frame he had to build before the day was over.

"Let's watch this tonight."

Marcus dropped the mattress and boxed frame and tilted his head to the movie she pulled out, silently wondering her intentions of watching this particular movie while in the dark.

He gazed at her confusedly and replied in a flat tone:

"You do realize this movie will scare the shit out of you, and I doubt the others want to watch it."

Celestia's plan obviously had the backfire of Marcus caring so much for her, but she could deviate his forbearance that she so very despised to see. Loneliness was a pain they shared and she wanted to make it disappear for good, and this was the way to do it.

She managed to start anew in her plan with a touch of her advantages. She bear a tilt of the head and the almighty quivering lip that Marcus could not resist, so he could be more accepting to the idea.

"Does it not entice to watch this movie with me," she started pressuring him emotionally and literally by keeping him between her and the wall. "A large blanket to cover us from the chills of midnight as we watch it. Snuggling on your couch. Having your arms around me during the moments of fright."

Luna glared from over the table and growled three words only her sister could hear. 

"Well played, sister."

Celestia's attention did not deviate from her disturbed human. . . though she did manage to put on a smile that would make the worst of criminals quiver.

She took a few steps back but rested head on his chest to really work him over.

"Just like this, with the possibility of me falling asleep during the movie. Wouldn't that be wonderful, making the fantasies we wrote in our letters so very real."

Marcus chuckled nervously under the pressure of his favorite princess looking up to him with enlarged puppy eyes and the irresistible quivering lip. He wanted to resist, but Celestia's words strummed that small chord he had for the fantasies they wrote to one another about what would happen if they saw one another again.

Nervously he replied with redness that she adored:

"I guess we could do that. We did write about it in the letter I got after you informed me you were imprisoned by that Tirek guy."

His marefriend (if that is where they were) giggled and nestled her face in the crook of his neck, locked wings around him, and rewarded him with a whine before looking back to her sister with a flick of her tongue.

Victory is mine.

Marcus, in his own little world, looked past the competitive sisters, eyes widening, once he saw Twilight leaving his room with a loaded and very expensive weapon he hadn't used since his last recon mission.

Fearfully, he tapped on Celestia's head and pointed her into the right direction as the princess of friendship levitated the item with a curious look about her.

"Celestia, we've got a big fucking problem," he whispered, listening as she gasped with the realization of what she had in her possession. "It's loaded."

The free yet extremely terrified princess new what her pupil was holding. Other than the occasional question of what the purpose was to his weapons, Celestia made a deeply conscious effort to learn and understand the weaponry of this planet during her first unplanned visit to earth. She had clear memories and a general idea from the explanations Marcus gave her about the destruction and ramifications to his arsenal. It was one of few things she could think about when she sat at the same fireplace with a blanket over her and rested at his side to have a better understanding of what the man's nature may be.

The point being, she knew that one round would put a hole in anyone within this house.

Both the human and the princess quietly approached the purple alicorn deep in her thoughts about the metallic item. And through some serious mustering of courage and heavy sweating, both were able to talk calmly.

"Twilight," Celestia said sweetly, her mane dropping quickly at the very second of her student eyeing the trigger. "Would be a dear and give that back to Marcus?"

Twilight, of course, looked up to her teacher and then at the profusely sweating human holding his hands out to her for said item.

"Can I not study these objects for science?" She asked, angering the couple while they grit their teeth.

"Twilight, I really need you to give me that," Marcus growled, trying his hardest not to lose his temper with the curious teenager. "Little girls should not play with things that don't belong to them."

"Why are you two sweating so much?" Twilight pointed out.

"Because you're holding a very dangerous gun," he replied, his eyes burning with fear. "And the last thing I need is for someone to have a hole in their body."

Twilight wasn't the kind of pony to turn away from learning, but she had considered his words as their silence stalled for a moment. She was being a bit uncooperative with returning the gun, but as her teacher expressed so much concern, she was clear with herself that some things are best left untouched. However, that did not mean secrets need to be kept.

"If it's so dangerous, then why do you keep it in your house and not locked away?"

Marcus leaned closer into Celesta's ear once he removed the shells from both barrels, his eyes widening at the alicorn's scrutinizing glare as they whispered to one another about taking the best course of action. He, begrudgingly, felt responsible to explain to the others as he kept a stern eye on the suspicious teenager whom he found to be too nosy for her own good.

"They need to know while we're here," Celestia told him sternly.

"Yes, but they're going to be happy about it." He reminded her.

"Doesn't matter, and they'll get over it."

"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure tiny terror here is going to be against you and I having a relationship."

"You're worried about that? I'm a grown mare and it is my decision whether or not you're my coltfriend. Besides, she's just a princess in training."

And he sighed with deep reluctance.

"Fine, but I'm not taking any criticism from anyone." He said scathingly, pointing at Cadance, Twilight and Luna as they gathered. "It is not my fault if they freak out."

Celestia agreed with a nod of her head.

Marcus suddenly appeared serious, as he could sense there was no reason to hide the truth from the other princesses. His inscrutable countenance and penetrating eyes gave away the depth of his concern for the matter brought forth by Twilight's ignorance and lack of respect for his possessions, but he had little choice in explaining himself and not enough mental fortitude to deal with it.

He had to be clear and stern, yet kind.

So, with a deep inhale, the man accepted the response he must give them.

"Everybody take a seat," he requested, surprisingly with a gentle voice. "We need to talk."

The couch became victim to three bodies panting their dirties rumps onto the cushion as Marcus and Celestia sat across from them. Of course, she gave comfort to him by leaning against him and putting a wing over his back, but it wasn't going to help the man through his acceptance of what these ponies will have to say when he's done talking, or that they raided his cabinets for food and somehow got chips and crackers on their flanks, and were now sitting on his clean couch.

For the first in a two years, he was going to be genuine with someone other than his mare whom had taken the effort to nuzzle him.

"Okay, I suppose Twilight went into my closet and saw everything, even when I told all of you not to touch anything while Celestia and I were gone."

Luna and Cadance glared down at the sheepish teenager blushing at him, knowing full well that all three of them were in trouble for her inability to stay out of the man's business.

"Well it's my fault for not explaining to you that my closet is off limits," he nodded his head shamefully. "Everything in there is a dangerous weapon I keep loaded in case there is ever an emergency."

"So. . . it's not safe to be here?" Cadance asked, feeling it was a neutral question to start the conversation.

"Oh no, my house is very safe," he chuckled for a moment before continuing. "But out there, in my world, so many horrible things have happened over the years and it's put my species almost on the list for extinction."

Having no idea what he was talking, all three princesses tilted their heads at the sighing human as he looked out the window to the hellish blizzard.

He took another deep breath he began:

"I can't remember how long its been exactly, but I remember where I was the day we lost control. I was at home with my brother when the sirens went off and the news channels went blank. The government had built a biological weapon that was designed to be carried in microscopic machines. This weapon was supposed to bring world peace, but the genetic agent became too smart."

Having their full attention now, Marcus focused on them while Celestia went to check on the foals.

"It mutated and evolved, doing things that were impossible. It took control of the micro-machines and began to invade every person without the approval of the one who controls them. It got into the bloodstream of one person and hell broke loose at every bio-facility in America. Soon the world was in turmoil, and my brother and I came here with the thought of the infection unable to spread when it's so cold."

"It seems you were right," Twilight pointed out, but Marcus seemed to disagree with her

"We were lucky and far enough from the infection that it did not get us," he told her firmly, his eyes blazing with the fires of the first wave of the infection. "But we watched the news, we watched as our kind turned against one another, the infected spreading their illness to others while cities were up in flames. But that was just the first wave of the infection's destruction."

"There were waves?" Celestia asked, surprising her fellow princesses when they'd thought she knew about it already.

Marcus nodded, and then continued his story:

"The second was it attacked the vital organs of the body and killed everyone, but when there were no more infected the third wave came. The bio-agent evolved again and somehow learned to take control of the body, thus the dead had risen and were enhanced by the mutation, giving them physical abilities that goes beyond the limits of man. Scientists believed it to be the brain under control, but the infected would act robotic rather than ravenous; at least that's what I believe."

"After the dead started coming back to life, those who remained in the cities were turned. That was the final wave of the infection before the rest of our species built the sanctuaries, which is what we are in right now."

"So we're in a safe haven?" Twilight asked.

"Something like that, but those monsters are still out there, hungry and waiting for the chance to get in. While they do, the remaining humans who are not infected go beyond the walls to do many missions. It's what I did and it's why I have all those guns in my room."

"To protect yourself?" 

Marcus shook his head and smiled evilly at the purple princess.

"I have those as a last resort, in case the infection breaks through. There will come a day where I die, but I believe in going down with all guns blazing."

Nobody had a word to say to Marcus about the holes in his story, but it was not felt necessary to ask; at least that's what Celestia, Luna, and Cadance believed.

As for Twilight though. . .

"But you said you had a brother; where is he now?"

"I have no idea," Marcus quickly dismissed as he turned to the only portrait he had of his sibling and himself. Although it was nothing to be proud of, their first mission beyond the wall was good enough for a picture. "We split our squad into two groups during a search and rescue. His mic went out during an ambush, and that was the last time I heard from him."

Twilight had to accept that, at the very least of considering she wasn't well in his trust to ask anything else that may be personal to him.

Marcus chuckled as he stood up to put the groceries where they belong, dragging a hand across Celestia's mane and sighing sadly to her.

"Anyway, the point being is that nobody goes into my closet and touches what's in there. Now let's get everything put away and enjoy the rest of the evening."

Celestia and Luna had no argument with that, especially Luna. Said alicorn made her older sister purse her lips for her inconsideration to their relationship. She took to physical contact with the man as the alabaster pony tried the same to keep his attention on her, but having two sexy princesses sway and nuzzle your sides was not as easy to ignore as he'd thought it would be.

"This is going to be so much fun," Celestia chirped, tangling the man's arm with her wings while he tried to put the chips and crackers into the cupboard. If only Luna wasn't doing the same.

"Fun is not the word I would use," Marcus said bitterly, pointing at the blue mare hanging onto him.

Luna still smiled contentedly, she still carried the pride of her crime with a hum of her voice. Somehow, Celestia had managed to force the terrible idea of tying, gagging, and tossing Luna into a closet deep in the crevices of her mind. Still, she was quite the parasite leeching on her time with Marcus, and she held him in such a loving, intimate, protective hold that they looked as if they were dancing around the room. Of course her affection was felt pouring deep into his skin, as it were so great he could almost not contain his own emotions.

Unfortunately, a few cans dropped unexpectedly from above and bounced off Marcus' head, drawing out the most vile of words while Celestia looked down at her sister to see she was the cause of it.

"I missed. . ."

And Marcus, in turn, walked away before his life was put in peril.

"Fuck me, I'm not going to last a week with all of these ponies in my house." He said to himself whist finding a comfortable spot on the couch. Of course no peace and quiet was found when he walked away from Celestia and Luna. He still had three foals with the immeasurable desire for his attention and the determination to grab it in any way possible.

Then even meant. . . 

"Daddy, I'm cold." Nightmare Moon whined as she dragged the comforter from his bedroom, her tiny wings unable to carry her just yet.

"Me too," Chrysalis snipped, hopping onto the couch.

Sombra couldn't speak a word, but some whimpering and a hard nudge of Marcus' leg did the trick.

Rolling his eyes with a grin, Marcus did not deny the foals their chance before the arguing sisters could take their place. He did just what they wanted, he picked up Sombra, then Nightmare Moon and waited for them to get comfortable before pulling the comforter over himself and them.

"I could get used to. . ." he began to say but upon feeling breaths tickle his neck, his words died in his throat.

And in doing so, with a shadow of a doubt, he looked up to find both alicorns glaring down at him while the foals snuggled his limbs and torso.

Celestia's and Luna's expression was as dark as ever.

"You two can put everything away and set the table for the food we brought," he ignored their glares and focused on petting Nightmare Moon as she dug into his side. "It's the least you can do for your bickering and fighting while I was trying to get things done."

"But what about tonight?" Celestia whined angrily, scowling at the foals whom joined together to spit raspberries at her.

Marcus instantly perked up with a chuckle.

"Then I suggest you get it done fast while I get these three settled down."






Meanwhile on a radio frequency


"So Marcus has a girlfriend and children?"

"Yes sir, but something seems very strange. He's very protective of them."

"Doesn't matter. He'll come to us when we confirm what our runners saw."

"With all due respect sir, Marcus has grown soft. He's not the same."

"You'd be surprised, agent. Marcus has a soft side to him, but underneath that skin is a killing machine."

"And if the runners were correct?"

"Then the game is set and the chess pieces are in place."















> Chapter 11
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was no fuss as the light of Marcus' wintery evening finally died . . . it was something out of the ordinary with his guests being more rambunctious than the foals napping in his bed. Well, except for Sombra; safety was his first priority and he was quick to have the baby bed built and set in his bedroom between his bed and the door, just in case Sombra woke up during the movie. The atmosphere in his house was a little calming, but still his status quo before tending to the needy alicorn waiting patiently on his couch with a large bowl of popcorn to try.

He couldn't imagine how she would react to tasting it. Telling was simply astonishing the princess and she was a little nervous when he offered to make her some.

Sadly though, Princess Luna had snuck herself into the snuggling before they were going to happen by annoying the hell out of her sister. Acting like a child and pouting the entire time in his chair while Twilight and Cadance snuggled on the second couch with a blanket to share. Both he and Celestia were a bit irritated by the blue pony making her advances while he put the foals to bed, asking personal questions and suggesting that he herds them bot or takes her as a mistress, or even as a significant other on the fact that she and Celestia have strict rules of never being favored in any way possible. This rule was strict and unfair, but Luna did have some kind of point in the matter, and it wasn't like there was another human around to adjust and accept a goddess for love.

About thirty minutes later, with certainty that he rocked Sombra to sleep, Marcus was free and able to leave the room to join Celestia for the movie she picked. . . the best part of his day after having to deal with her and Luna's bickering. He was unfortunately leeched by the lunar princess' wing when he walked past the girls to have a minute to himself, but upon passing his marefriend as she laid on her side invitingly, he realized he was getting the same pout Luna had.

"Marcus. . ." Celestia whined over the couch. He had to admit that he loved how cute she was doing that, but she could spare him a moment to do what is his addiction. So, he ignored her and escaped the clingy Luna by closing the door and locking it.

"I'm having a puff," he yelled through the door. "Just give me a minute."

"Hurry up," Celestia continued, this time using her advantage, which aggravated him. He was not like most people who had the desire to interact and socialize in every minute of their life. He preferred being alone, especially when it comes to smoking.

Celestia appeared in a flash of light as he went out in the garage to keep the smell of his vape from permeating his utility room. She began rubbing her cheek up and down his back to grab his attention. She was not going to be ignored or denied his attention.

I just want a fucking puff!

Marcus groaned in the midst of exhaling smoke, but Celestia would have none of it. She waited too long to have him. She interlocked her wings around his chest so he could not escape, and she kissed his neck repeatedly, continuing her whispers of amore:

"Let's go. Couch. . . movie. . . snuggle," she nipped his neck.

She was certainly determined. He took another puff and sarcastically wondered why she was acting so insecure. Marcus continued to treat this like it wasn't happening; if he addressed it he would not get his moment of smoking.  The problem however was that Celestia would give up so easily. She decided that it was time to resort to the extreme measure. She teleported in front of him and pressed her lips against his after he finished exhaling the smoke, nibbling and moaning in his mouth teasingly, before putting her chest against his and putting a hoof on his butt, giving it a hard squeeze. She knew exactly how to push his buttons.

"You're not going to spare me a minute, are you?" He asked

She shook her head and kissed him again before answering:

"I haven't seen you in two years. We have so much time to make up for."

Finally, Marcus gave in to reciprocate the kissing and nibbling just a little to get her as aroused as he was right now. She laughed gingerly and pulled away.

"Not so fast, honey, we still have much to cover before the good stuff."

"Why do you sound so much sexier when you talk like that?" He chuckled, scooting his back against the wall. Celestia moved so he could do so, but quickly replaced her position upon his trapped form between the wall and herself. Now given what little space was there with her flanks touching the car, she had to be extra careful not to impale any part of him, before giving him another kiss.

However, the passionate escalation of her lips became less than what Marcus wanted when she began using her magic and took his vape from his hand, giggling. Clearly, Celestia was serious about making him quit.

"Come on, give it back." He requested with a gentle voice, but Celesia would not oblige. She was too busy looking at the device with a crucial eye whilst taking a sniff of the flavor she was ignorantly dripping from the tube onto the floor. 

"I do not see the point of torturing your lungs with such a device." Celestia replied before turning the tip to her lips, curious as any mare can be. However, after a few seconds of seeing how adamant Marcus was having her return it in his hand, she pulled a fast one and mimicked his actions by holding the button with her magic and taking a small inhale of it.

Immediately, he throat felt that it was on fire and she gagged on the tarty razzleberry that was choking her. Her eyes watered like the fountain in her castle, and she was regretting every second of it as her human held her held and let her cough into his shirt.

"Can't hold your smoke?" he asked sarcastically, noticing how aggravated and desperate she was for air. . . a moment he would forever have as blackmail; that is if he ever needed to mess with her like that.

"By the heavens, that was horrible." Celestia coughed. Marcus, amused greatly, laughed at her while she kept it levitated just out of his reach. "You're not smoking any longer. I forbid you damaging your lungs any further."

"Says the mare who decided to try it herself." He uttered proudly and smugly. Celestia looked away frustratingly and put on the highest shelf in his garage, just at the edge where should he try to reach he would shake the shelves too much and lose it for good.

"That was a dick move," he uttered, glaring at the mare as she got wits about her again.

"I don't care if it upsets you." Celestia said smoothly and the two went inside the house before it got too cold. This time, Marcus was content walking inside to join the rest of the mares for the movie they waited very patiently to start. Why was he content. . . well he had the humor of his marefriend levitating a certain alicorn princess that had been pestering him but was not sitting in a chair, bound in a blanket that was enchanted to restrain.

Marcus' eyes locked with the pleading princess, her subtle communication for freedom as he sat down with the eager alabaster pony spitting raspberries at the heartbroken Luna.

This couldn't have gone better.

"Was this really necessary?" Luna asked as she wriggled in the blanket. Her magic would have helped her out of this dilemma, but even the princess of love put some effort to amplifying the enchant so that it took two in order to break the enchantment.

"Marcus, help me!" Luna pleaded, but he was too busy getting comfortable with his princess lying on his chest. He pressed the play button and ignored Luna as she tried the crocodile tears. It would have been effective, but. . .

"The tears are not going to help." Celestia told her sternly, snuggling in the crook of her human's neck. "You started this, and now I'm finishing it."

"But it's not fair that you have a mate!" Luna protested angrily. She was getting rather infuriated as to why her sister would not respect the rules they made as sisters desiring love. "You can't have a mate without sharing. That was the agreement we made when we were fillies."

"Yes, but we're mares now. And I don't share." Celestia joked subtly. Regardless, even being grown up and with desires of love, Luna did have a point. They did make the agreement, but why did she have to share the man she fell in love with? She was the one who put the effort into understanding him. She put all of her free time into making a rift in order to see him once more, so why should she share her human with her sister, who did absolutely nothing but make it troublesome for her.

"This is not over!" Luna snapped, grinding her teeth as the movie finally came to its dark atmosphere. "You will have to share!"

"I am not having this now." Celestia punctuated her frustration with a quick spell that shut the alicorn's lips. Once that spell did its work and Luna had nothing better to do than get comfortable, Celestia relaxed and watched from the corner of her eye her niece and student talking and giggling about her and Marcus.

"Please stop talking," Marcus requested, fighting the noticeable hint of lust in Celestia's touch. "That's something I can't stand during a movie."

"This is wonderful. . ." Celestia mused as she rubbed her hoof over his torso. Marcus' eyes narrowed to the alicorn touching him like due partially to how straight forward her actions were, but mostly due to the fact that she was being very abnormal. Kissing was normal, with a bit of teasing, but to have touch intimately, now he was concerned.

"Are you. . .Is something. . ." he was fumbling at the stroke across his stomach, and she giggled musically in his ear.

"I've missed you so much. . ."

"So the rubbing of my chest and stomach. . ."

"Are you displeased by my actions?" Celestia asked, with undeniable hurt in her voice.

"No. Not at all. I just thought you were trying. . . well you know. . ." Marcus looked away and focused on the movie as Celestia giggled in his ear. "It's not funny." The alicorn in question immediately wrapped her legs around his and pulled the afghan over their bodies, the poor man feeling quite stupid and ashamed for his one-track mind as she found the perfect spot to snuggle.

"Let's get back to the movie. . . " he said half-heartedly.

"I'm sorry dear. . . but that was quite humorous," Celestia said with a few residual giggles before planting a kiss on his neck and whispering in his neck:

"Still, that doesn't mean we never will. We just have a long way to go."

Marcus was moved by her words as the atmosphere in the living room began to rise with the movie, but he was intended on enjoying a peaceful night with his gorgeous mare lying on top of him and holding him for saving during every frightening moment that will take place. From his perspective, he had the perfect night with her on him and the right movie to deepen their feelings. A scare here and there to make the princess latch onto him when she is startled—he couldn't ask for more.

"Need extra warmth?" Celestia offered, draping her wing across the man. She curled her feathers under his free arm, the orientation of passion in a nuzzle while his fingers rubbed the bone tenderly. He blinked a few times at his response but then smiled with her.




> Chapter 12
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cold and devoid of a second body she should have in her wings, Celestia stirs from her most enjoyable slumber with a loud yawn and processes the emptiness. She slowly opens her eyes and smacks her lips as the chill inside the house sends a shiver down her spine. She was not the kind of pony to be bitten by winter, but she did not have her sun to empower her, and the fireplace was almost without fire. Thankfully, she had just enough magic to levitate a couple of logs inside and ignite them, but now she had to conserve; that was all the energy had recharged throughout the day.

Back to the matter at hoof, she blinked her eyes multiple times in disbelief that Marcus was not with her, but it was indeed true that she was alone. His spot, however, was still very warm, and the last movie he suggested was still running with another climatic moment of fright that would have scared her, if she was wide awake that is.

"I hope Luna doesn't try to be this Freddy character." Celestia yawned a second time, before standing up to search for her human. "She could traumatize some ponies on nightmare night."

She then looked to the couch to see her student and niece snuggling with Luna, their heads barely visible in the darkness. But that wasn't what had her a little concerned at the moment, or a little nerve-racked when she thought about it.

Marcus would never leave her or the others like this, and he had left his gun on the table for anyone to pick up and look at. He was always careful about leaving his loaded pistol, but there it rested inside it's holster with two extra magazines on the side.

Now she was worried, for in all her time of seeing that man, that pistol never left his side.

"Why would he leave?" She asked herself, staring at the firearm and then up to windows. They were all closed off by the metal door he said to have installed the first day he was granted ownership of the house. The locks were tight and the howls of wolves were heard in the whistling winds of the blizzard.

So why did she just hear a window slide open or close? 

She walked away from her fellow princesses and quietly trotted on the hunch of where the sound originated. However, her ears flicked when running water was heard beyond the foyer to the upstairs bedroom. She peeked up said stairs and found the lights were on, but there was no human sounding in the distance.

"What is he up too?" She asked herself, moving slowly up the stairs as the girls were heard giggling. She stopped at the top of the stairs and ceased all worries when a door was open, the profound sight of nakedness shining bright in her eyes after the figure shut off the water and began drying his hair with a second towel. Unfortunately, the first that was protecting him between his waist and knees fell off as he turned to grab a pair of clothes in the next room, and standing before him with her cheeks burning, the princess stared down at the last mystery she had pondered during their separation.

"Tia. . . "

"I was not looking," Celestia announced, backing away until her hind legs slipped on the stairs, still staring at the man's girth as he rushed towards her in a split second. She hadn't realized his intention until it was too late, she was falling down the stairs and had no way to catch herself with the narrow hallway blocking her wings. Her ability to scream was stolen by the shock of her descent, but, of course, the back of her neck was caught in Marcus' arms, and she was pulled back to the floor with his entire form touching her.

That's when she realized Marcus had saved her, but he was under her, skin to skin and the beat of his heart thumping loudly in her ear as his hands moved tenderly to pet her mane.

"Talk about too damn close," he chuckled, ignoring that she was blushing from having her barrel poked. "That would have been a pain in the ass to explain to the girls."

"Right, sorry. Perhaps you could release me though?" Celestia conceded, reminding her human that he was naked and holding her against him. Marcus laughed nervously and stood up, the towel being essentially thrown around his waist by the alicorn before she would fall to another glance.

"Sorry about that," he said genuinely, turning away from the princess.

She shook her head of the perverted thoughts running in her mind and glared at the man as he proceeded to enter the other room for his clothes. 

"Why did you leave me?" She complained from the other side of the wall, sitting on her haunches and pouting like a filly with impatience. 

"I was needing a few minutes to myself. It's not easy keeping your emotions composed all day when the mare you fell for suddenly returns to see you." Marcus admitted, though with hurt in his tone as he pulled up his shorts. He took a deep breath and peaked around the doorway to see that Celestia was surprised, before adding to his confession:

"Even I have to cry in the shower every once in a while."

"I understand that, but you can speak with me about these things." Celestia decided to address the problem, standing up and nuzzling him expectantly. 

"So you would understand that I had to cry over you coming back?" He asked, reciprocating the affection and pulling the alicorn into a kiss. Celestia closed her eyes and giggled gleefully, wrapping her wings around his lower back and rump. Once the kiss lasted a good minute or two and they separated to glance at each other, Celestia took a breath of her own to confess.

"You're not the only one who wants to cry," she told him, though a few tears did leave her while Marcus' hands ran up and down her neck. "Knowing how faithful you were to me, even when we were universes apart, I wanted nothing more than to scream with joy. It's been a dream to find someone that will not lose hope in me."

"You make it sound as if others have," he pointed out, teasing her with another kiss.

"Love is so difficult for me to grasp." Celestia took his hand and held it tightly in her wing, before looking away to sadly. "Perhaps it is weakness. Love has been out of my reach for so long."

Marcus nodded and cupped her chin, having to pull the sorrow into his eyes and Celestia wondering why such a man captured her heart, though she clearly knew why.

"I've been thinking. . . "

Oh no, that did not sound good. He had been thinking, but what was thinking about. Celestia stiffened as he released her, her mind cupping his expression as it exploded with a million questions. What she did not know, however, was that his words had already passed her, and the question coming from him was hanging in the air without an answer.

"Celestia, are you alright?" He asked, startling the mare out of her space-out moment involving every idea to keeping him before the matter worsened.

"Yes, I'm just a little tired," she affirmed, shaking her head as he smiled at her sarcastically. "What was it you were saying?"

"I said that—" Marcus was on the verge of exclaiming his idea, but a soft cry echoed in the vent and dragged his attention to it in a heartbeat. He moved closer to the stairs and listened for it again without noticing that his lovely marefriend was quietly panicking for not hearing his question the question time.

Though he had only shorts on and serious concern that Luna might ignore the fact that he is with Celestia, he went into action and proceeded to follow the cries down into the kitchen whilst leaving the nervous mare to her own thoughts. He made his way around the house until the voice came from his bedroom, and he quietly entered to find that Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis were fast asleep but Sombra was reared up with his forehooves on the edge of the crib and crying. Marcus said nothing as he approached the foal reaching out to him and felt the overwhelming surge of his fatherly instincts explode in his body.

That's when he realized how happy he was to be like that.

"Hey buddy," he cooed with affection and lifted Sombra into his arms, his first priority being the diaper, and thankfully it was that at all but loud stomach growling.

"Hungry, I see;" he chuckled, carrying the boy into the kitchen. "Well then, let's get you fixed up with a bottle."

It was at that point Celestia got her bearings and walked downstairs to find Marcus and discover what she blatantly missed out of sheer ignorance, but the proof of his doing in the act of parenthood was more than showing, it was literally beaming. Celestia even had to mentally commend the man for having a bottle already prepped and ready in the fridge and just needing to be heated whilst rocking rocking the teary-eyed Sombra gently. And in front of the others as well, she realized something:

How happy she was to have met him.

"Discord. . ." she thought out loud, chuckling to herself as her half-naked human took his time to make sure the bottle would heat properly, although it was confusing to the alicorn to see him drop the bottle into a pot of water. Why didn't he just ask her to heat it up with some magic?

Marcus paid no mind as she approached, completely used to her touch, and simply nuzzled the mare when she rested her chin on his shoulder. Chuckling internally to the memories of their first intimate touch, he reminisced how Celestia drew him close with that connection, smiled warmly, kissed her cheek, and scratch her neck with ease before grabbing the bottle to check it once more. Of course, Sombra was not improving with the rocking. He was hungry and going to tell everyone about it by screaming at the top of his lungs.

"I wonder if he was like this in your world," Marcus' smooth yet masculine voice sounded to Celestia. If it weren't for the given situation, she would have pounced the man and spent every minute with the letters to repeat their ideas into reality, but she had to remain steady while having her fellow princesses wide awake and currently watching from the couch.

"As a foal, maybe. As a stallion—let's just say he never had parents to teach him right and wrong." Celestia replied with little humor. Marcus sighed and took the bottle out of the pot one last time before nodding with approval of the temperature.

"Why don't you go sit down?" He asked, adjusting the lid before feeding the foal, who was more than happy to guzzle the nourishing milk. "I'll join you after I get him back into bed."

"How about you come with me while feeding Sombra?" Celestia mused, smiling sarcastically and pushing him to the couch before he had any say in the matter. Unfortunately, that meant tending to the most impressed lunar princess already making herself comfortable on the couch they shared.

Luna immediately hopped away from Twilight and Cadance and stole the left side while her sister quietly grit her teeth and sat on the other side of Marcus. It was no mystery to Twilight or Cadance that Celestia and Luna were at war with one another for Marcus' attention, both their eyes locked intensely as electricity clashed from their horns.

"My bits are on Celestia," Cadance whispered, and Twilight grumbled to herself for not getting the bet in first.

"You would be most alluring to mares, Marcus." Luna complimented, finally ignoring her infuriated sister. She lovingly nuzzled the man's arm as he checked the contents of the bottle, only to have it dragged from his hand by the very foal that he was feeding. "A stallion raising the foal, a most respectable and enticing aspect."

"He is most alluring without the approval of others, sister." Celestia said sternly, licking his cheek without warning. It was without a doubt that behind such affection there was now a very aggravated blue alicorn doing the same thing, except with her wings around him and his head in her chest. "He is most alluring to me."

"Well I find him impossible to resist." Luna stuck her tongue out, shocking her sister as the man defused the situation before it could start. He quickly separated himself from both mares and took refuge in his recliner. Celestia and Luna were hurt by this and tried to follow, but he pointed at both of them and glared.

"If you come over and disturb Sombra with your bickering, there will be hell to pay." He punctuated his threat with resuming the movie, his eyes focused on the movie as the colt in his arms began to fuss. Both princesses were now without the man of their desire—alone, denied and slightly cold, they tucked under the comforter together but kept up their conflict with childish whispers and nudging.

"Leech." 

"Fat flank."

"Toothpick."

"You wish you were as thin as I am."

"And lose my curves, I don't think so."

It was going to be a very long night for Marcus. . . 



> Chapter 13
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marcus held his breath as the squad members foolish enough to break into the run-down electronics department tried to crawl away from te infected, but there was no escape, nothing to make the terrified man break from the shadows. He knew, by the way he argued and fought with them, that their arrogance was going to get him killed. He knew the world had no time for heroes, a good deed meant a bite or losing your life to the monsters that crave flesh.

A single squad member inched out of the piling infected with one still devouring his left side, the eyes of this man devoid of reason and conscience as he reached for Marcus. His death, however, came with the next rotting infected biting his hand off and dragging him to the alleyway behind him. Marcus could not stop hearing the screams, as it was in his belief to listen to the horrors. To teach himself that a single mistake meant a painful death.

A feminine hand touched his shoulder through the brush behind him while another curled around his mouth. He could not scream, but he had his weapons and quick wits to save him.

"It's just me," the female whispered, making herself visible for a split second under a shaky spotlight. "Don't pull that trigger or we will all die."

Marcus hadn't realized it until he turned to the woman and stared at her throat, his gun pressed harshly against her neck, his finger touching the hair-line trigger as the horror came to a dull sound of moaning flesh being torn. Marcus eased on his actions and fell directly against the woman, ready for her to catch him as the wounds to his legs and arm started to burn. He couldn't do anything about blind-fire and ignorance of the situation, simply watch as their lives were taken. He glanced up at woman caressing his head. She was cruel to hold him tightly when he was wounded.

"We're you bitten?" She asked, quietly checking the wounds under the bloodstains until he shook his head.

"Bastards went crazy with their guns," Marcus chuckled, but the pain came in another wave. He hissed and curled into the older woman as she looked for a place to escape. "Fucking teenagers are all talk when it comes to this job. But when the infected came out, they broke rank and started firing at everything that moved."

"The commander is not going to be happy about this," the woman cursed under her breath, and then proceeded to drag Marcus to a nearby store while the infected were still distracted. 

Marcus had his gaze trained to the right though. The bushes next to him rustled and a finger rolled to his feet, and his fellow soldier stopped dragging him away from the carnage. He and the woman caught a glimpse of a decaying hand, coming closer before the bush split for the culprit. Another infected, an obese male, crawled through the thorns, as if he'd been hiding there the entire time than with the other infected, but the half-eaten head of a teenager hung in it's teeth until it saw Marcus and bit into his shredded leg.

Marcus immediately screamed and. . .

"Marcus. . ."

"Marcus!"

Marcus shot up without recognizing the voice. He let his instincts overcome his conscience and pushed the pistol to the pony's throat as she fell under him with a fright. "Marcus, it's me!"

Marcus did not listen though, his mind clouded with fear and rage as he pinned the mare to the floor for everyone to watch. The room was as dark as his heart until it plunged with despair and worry. Had his nightmares finally took control of him? Was he somehow a monster of his own perspective? She was not at all a monster. She was the mare he fell in love with, and he had her in a life-or-death situation.

"Marcus, it's me." She kept her voice gentle, not wanting to sound aggressive in the least. Her voice had called to his conscience, and just in time as well.

Marcus stiffened, recognizing the mare. He let the weapon fall to the floor and released her throat. His form slumped as he scooted in fright and disgust of himself before Celestia sat up and took him from the depressing feeling of attacking her. His dazed gaze met a rather concerned from a certain blue alicorn as Celestia did everything she could to comfort him.

"It's okay, you're safe." Celestia crooned between kissing and nuzzling the shaky man in her wings. The deep pants of his aggression softened to shock, as did his expression before he retreated from the alicorn. Alas, the concern of his behavior showed in everyone, even the two foals that were already at the table eating whatever was found in the cupboard.

He was careful standing up from the worried mare as she did her best keeping him close, but fear was overwhelming to love, and Celestia was getting her hooves under her while he marched out of the room, passing the worried looks of all four princesses.

"Marcus!" Celestia's voice was heard on deaf ears, as it was seen in a split second that the man she loved was not with them at the moment. That single moment of his monster coming out did some damage and left her alone in the living with her fellow princesses staring at in worry that she might be injured. 

That wasn't the case though, and she now had to explain it to them before assumptions were made. She feared, mostly, about Twilight's outlook of Marcus and if any friendships could be made. If she was going to bring him back to Equestria, she had to make sure there wasn't going to be any conflict.

"Are you alright?" Cadance asked, looking around her aunt for any marks. Luna and Twilight remained where they were but with harsh glares to the upstairs as a door was slammed and locked. 

"I am alright," Celestia shook her head of the troubles to come with her sister and princess-in-training and gazed at the two softly after thanking Cadance. "But I'm worried about Marcus."

"You're worried about him!?" Twilight exclaimed angrily, thrusting a hoof at the ceiling. "He had you on the floor with his claw on your throat. He attacked you."

Celestia kept calm with her student with knowing the situation being as complicated at most, and shook her head at the purple alicorn before taking a deep breath and replying:

"It's not his fault, Twilight. He has extreme cases of nightmares from his past." She exhaled to help with shakiness in her body, and resumed staring solemnly at the infuriated princess, although she would rather be upstairs comforting her human. "Understand that in this world it is life or death on a daily basis, and Marcus is victim to the situations he went through."

"But that doesn't justify him almost hurting you!" Twilight yelled.

"You are correct, but tell me this," Celestia took a moment to think around the young alicorn's perspective. If only she had thought this through earlier. "Would you be the same if you were in a world that is plagued with carnivorous monsters? Would you not develop some form of mental condition that is diseased by your horrid past?"

Twilight opened her mouth to argue, but she was found speechless by the sudden thought of being Marcus' situation and retreating beside Luna while the noise upstairs died into silence. She pondered and collected the very few facts given by the man and her mentor and the pictures she did see around the house. It ached in her heart to be wrong and in front of her fellow princesses, especially in front of the mare that taught and raised her, but she had to consider that Equestria was not the same as Marcus' world.

"No, I wouldn't." She sighed deeply at the floor with shame in her eyes, but the motherly love of her teacher touched her head, and the soft wings that gave her security once upon a time, were not folded around her.

"You are raised to fight and show mercy to your enemies," Celestia whispered, hugging the young princess tightly while Luna and Cadance stared at the ceiling, wondering if Marcus would be alright. "Marcus is not. He grew up in a cold and cruel world that is nothing but death and destruction. He was raised to fight and kill, and it haunts him. Just now, what you saw, was his past haunting him."

"Does he possess a real condition?" Luna asked out of the blue.

Celestia sighed with disappointment and said:

"I'm not sure. . ."





Morning in Marcus' house came as the groggy Sombra was carried out of bed by Celestia and placed in the extra in the living room. With the first set of metal doors unlatched and light shining across the room, a number of channels were surfed by a curious Chrysalis learning to use the remote; all four alicorn began making their stay a little less stressful for the host, and a number of ingredients could be seen on the granite counter. A light grunt from the princess of love carried through the kitchen into Luna's ears, and she was driven with wonder as to what the pink mare was doing at the moment.

"Attempting breakfast my niece?" Luna asked, and the scrunch on Cadance's face gave her the answer she needed. She turned to Twilight, who was actually working between studying the foals and playing with them, and called to her in hopes of some idea at cooking.

Sadly, the purple princess shook her head and said:

"Spike has always done the cooking." Twilight was disappointed to see the lunar princess glaring at her in disapproval just as hard as Cadance was. She retreated to her observation whilst asking the eldest of the group if it would be best for someone to fetch Marcus.

Celestia immediately shook her head at the idea and did what came to mind. Remembering the last channel she saw during her first visit, she took the remote, angering a whiny Chrysalis, and drew the attention of the other princesses. She levitated the device low enough for all to see and proceeded to press a specific sequence of buttons that appeared to be some sort of code for the television. Twilight was quick to take a note on it, but she failed to see the reason behind Celestia's intentions and was startled by the channel changing to a network that was meant for cooking.

"I hope I remember this," Celestia said to herself with much frustration. Her nose scrunching at the many buttons as she talked to herself. "This one is to pause while the other two are for skipping scenes, but this one should be. . ." She grinned with joy as the channel was brought back to the beginning, and jumped before commending herself. "I got it!"

After praising herself, the solar princess thrust a hoof at the paused scene and smiled at the others, her eyes full of determination. "We do not need Marcus' help with breakfast. As long as we follow what this human has to say, we will be fine."

Twilight, Luna and Cadance tilted their heads at the alabaster princess as she tossed the remote onto the couch and made her way into the kitchen.

"Let's make breakfast!"





Opening both eyes in the middle of his thoughts, the first thing Marcus saw was light finally beaming through the curtains. The darkness was spread thin, looking almost like a parasite crawling under the bed until he was hit with warmth. 

The second thing he saw was the shadow of a pony standing at the door, a large shadow with her hooves moving in place as he listened to her whispering. It sounded as if she was conflicted with knocking on the door, but him opening the door pulled the mare out of her stupor. Even when he was in distress and fearing what the others are thinking of him, the mare was still positively alluring, with her eyes softly on him and her lips curved into a sad smile, just begging to be given the strength of a kiss. He shook his head of such thoughts and remembered that he had obligations to the foals downstairs. Still, he could not deny it remained and lingered in his mind as he stared at the alicorn.

"Hey," she said softly, staring at the disheveled man in the middle of wondering if he was going to spend another hour in that room.

"Hey," his voice lacked life, but startled in a moment's notice, his breath was caught in a kiss with the mare of his life denying him space. The mare's eyes were closed and her wings were firmly around him before she pushed her way inside and kicked the door shut. The last thing he noticed before falling onto the bed was the alicorn using her magic to push him further onto the covers before resting on top of him.

"You cannot escape me that easily," Celestia cooed with a lick of her lips, tasting some of the mixed saliva. She giggled to see how flabbergasted and immobile Marcus was. Her eyes stared into him with a mixture of amusement and lust that reminded her a lot of the first kiss he stole from her. After a moment's thought she decided to slowly descend on the man and take him for a slighter longer kiss.

"Luna will make sure to block your nightmares from now on."

Confused, Marcus tilted his head to see that Celestia was not kidding.

"I hope this does not change things between us," Celestia said, letting herself fall completely on the man, nestling in the crook of his neck. "I would really hate to lose you to the fear of your nightmares."

"I hadn't thought about it like that." He admitted and was grateful for the idea. He his murmured his thanks and pecked her lips. 

Marcus was a man who was rarely calm nowadays. In the situation he was always tense and uptight, but knowing Celestia was putting herself in his problems for him gave him a new incentive to the depth she was willing to g. It put his respect for Celestia on an entirely new level. He probably had never known the word calm until he had her.

He had to struggle to understand part of her reasons. He saw her needs in her eyes, but he hadn't lived like an immortal. He did not have her experiences. He wasn't a god and didn't fully understand the driving need of this mare to keep him so close.

He plunged his hands deep into the muscles of her wings and instantly felt and heard the soreness with the princess. His fingers found that steady rhythm that came from massaging the tight appendages. Sounds of delight, the whines and snorts of her pleasure, the feeling of her in his neck ebbing and flowing in the tickling sensation, all coming to him as if they were part of a single life bound by their own.

She sent him instant gratitude, surrounded him with her body and her love. "It is astounding how magic cannot exceed the feeling of your fingers. I swear there is a secret you refuse to share with me."

"It's just a little massage," Marcus teased. He continued to softly pinch and drag the bridge of her wings whilst ignoring the sounds of his princess.

Celestia tried to make understanding of the magic in his hand. He'd been nothing but kind and gentle to her, but she'd never felt such mirth when massaged by her servants. The strength in her body prevented Marcus from the slightest wiggle. He couldn't move to find a more comfortable position—something that he had been doing for at least ten minutes. His legs couldn't reach any sort of leverage, as it was felt by her hind legs and tail that she had him pinned.

"So, is everyone thinking I'm a freak?" He asked, only to hear the sound of her moaning. Eventually, he stopped and was met with slightly disappointed mare staring down at him with concern.

"They are understanding about what happened, but I would advise allowing Luna to protect you in your sleep." Celestia recommended with great disdain, her warm eyes now cold and scrutinizing as she sat up to allow Marcus some breathing space.

Marcus quickly shook his head and disagreed with her.

"I don't want Luna to see what goes on in my head. She doesn't need to see the things I've experienced beyond the wall."

"I agree," Celestia nodded but kept her expression stern. "However, I doubt the next time this happens that Twilight will be as forgiving. You know how judgmental she can be."

"But my nightmares are something you don't see in your world." He argued, frustrating the mare as she pulled him out of the room. He hadn't realized he was being dragged downstairs; at least not yet. 

"Luna and I have experienced our fair share of horrendous nightmares; some of which are just as heinous as yours."

"Oh really," he mused, crossing his arms as he realized that he was back in the kitchen. He couldn't be any happier to see that his house was not burning down at the moment as Cadance continued to follow the instructions on the television for regular pancakes.

"Yes, really." Celestia snipped, nuzzling her mate before forcing him to sit with her at the table. "But enough about that. Let's eat. I'm sure you have things to do."

"I do have to pick up my dogs today." He reminded himself. He glanced at the plate set in front of him and then looked up to the princess of love cursing herself for lack of skill in the kitchen. His nose was hit with a harsh aroma, and he nearly gagged at how strong it was.

"What is this?" He pointed at the charred food sitting on his before picking it up. It was as hard as a rock. 

He looked over to the three foals sitting across the table, sniffing and making gagging faces before pushing their plates away. Hell, even Twilight was at the table and she was doing her best to make her portion disappear while her sister-in-law was looking away.

"Pancakes," Celestia chirped, but the horror on Marcus' was all she needed to know if breakfast was edible. She immediately put her fork down and watched as took the food on the stove and kitchen and tossed it out the window. This, of course, broke Cadance's heart and he was left with comforting the mare for her failure.

"A valiant effort, Cadance," He told the pouting mare, petting her mane and reaching for some ingredients out of the cupboard to his left. "But how about leaving the cooking to the host of the house."

Cadance suppressed a groan of frustration and walked away, muttering in a tone only she could hear:

"It was Celestia's idea in the first place."
> Chapter 14
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia followed the snowy view of the broken world and pondered through the unsettling thoughts of her desires, forcing herself to forget the three foals sitting in the back, eating peacefully with her annoying sister taking in the view as the beautiful blanket of white revealed the walls that tower above her. The blizzard was still tearing a new into sanctuary, but it let up enough for her to see what the outside was like. She was less enthusiastic to have Luna with them, as it was one of very few chances she had to spend quality time with Marcus. The need of a mate, however, did not just weigh on the alabaster mare, Luna was in the same boat as her and drifting that sea with a steering course to land in the man's heart.

Nothing could have prepared the princess for her younger sister being so aggressive and direct with Marcus; even she did not expect her ever-so quiet and strict sister to have a less formal personality about her, but she knew it was bound to happen sooner or later when the idea of taking him away from this world came to mind. It annoyed her, so much that she leaned on his shoulder and tried to nap through the entire trip. She always had a knack for falling asleep in a carriage or a chariot, and the truck was no different, save for the rough terrain and engine roaring every time Marcus feels the snow starting to slow him down.

She had been able to keep her instincts contained despite the frustration her sister was giving and she was glad that she had not taken the offensive. She knew it was the same with Luna, a lifetime of loneliness and abandonment with no one to turn too for support and comfort. And now a potential mate that could very well stay for a very long time, Celestia hadn't thought her plan through and felt that she was a failure due to Luna worming her way into their relationship.

Then the last thought she hoped to have hit her like bad cake; what would she do if they were mates but were separated by death? A fate that which cannot touch her, but it could very well take Marcus from her in a heartbeat. Her chest tightened with each passing second of imagining her human passing into the afterlife, leaving her alone and unloved forever. But with fear came another emotion that she rarely felt: anger. With it then came rapid thinking and a determination to prevent that, but could she really find a way and do that to Marcus? 

She snorted, aggravated by her own kindness and rubbing her hoof against his leg as the turn onto the highway mesmerized Luna. Marcus was easily distracted by the alicorn's disposition and gazed at her from time to time to see if she was alright. She wasn't though, she was afraid and angry at her sister and Marcus' lifetime being so short. They say to enjoy life with what little time you have, but that was a bunch of hay to her. The understanding of that concept was nothing more than a bandage to cover the wound that grows during your eternal life.

She was going to make it so their lives intertwined, even if it meant using—

It dawned to her, shocked but not expressing herself when it was felt as she remembered the simplest way to keep him. God, did she feel so stupid for not realizing that forever could happen without having to trouble herself with another ritual or expedition for artifacts or runes. She mentally slapped herself for being so ignorant and then nuzzled the man, thus making her little sister jealous and Marcus slightly nervous.

All I need to do is to reverse his age! 

"Tia."

Marcus came up to a stop sign and looked to the rear of the car for any traffic behind him, although it wasn't necessary since he was the only person to actually take the old highway. He was worried that Celestia's silence and he knew that she was deep in thought. He could not have her acting so strange while Luna was with them, especially when the foals were starting to notice her behavior.

"Yes, my mate." Celestia cooed with the intention to lick him on the cheek. She nestled in the man's neck when he switch the gear to park and leaned over to whisper. She stole his voice though, a tender kiss to his neck whilst heating the conflict between her sister and herself. She did not have to look back to see Luna was very uncomfortable with her advancement on the man, just the glare she felt on the back of her neck was enough. Luna could not do anything, for the foals took up the middle row and she barely got permission from Marcus to join them while Cadance and Twilight remained at the house to try more of the video games he suggested.

Everyone could imagine Twilight throwing a tantrum due to her greatest weakness now getting the best of her with those buttons.

Multitasking her magic.

"Are you okay?" He asked, leaning closer to close the gap on his favorite mare. He was glad that she accepted his response and decided to return the favor with nuzzling and petting she needed very badly. 

"I am just a little bored at the moment," she lied. "Seeing this world as it was the first time I saw it does not intrigue me that much."

"Okay, but just let me know." 

Marcus did push the matter any further, feeling that he was not going to get anywhere if he tried to pry the mare of what was eating at her. He was not fooled by the sudden change of behavior, but he knew there were some things that should be left alone for the time being. He checked both sides of the road before putting the truck back in drive, and pushed forward in the foot-tall snow that could very well strand them if he wasn't careful. Thankfully the truck was meant for this kind of weather, built with power rather than speed. He decided to focus on the road and keep his hands to himself whilst controlling the urge that Celestia gave him with her hoof stroking his leg slowly.

He could see a squad in the distance as the alicorn pushed into him a little harder to rest against his shoulder, but the armored men coming into view jolted her mind awake and made her help Luna put an illusion over the truth to hide their appearance as humans. Marcus came to distant stop with his hand firmly placed on his concealed glock, unbuttoning the holster for his own safety before separating from the concerned alicorn that was now holding his hand as he opened the door. That wasn't all that stopped him from leaving the truth; even with his mare having already implied to her fellow ponies that he was very capable of defending himself, they were afraid of something bad was going to happen. Luna was also afraid and latched onto his arm with her magic before he could get a foot out of the car.

"Where are you going?" Both mares asked with concern, turning to glare at one another while Marcus pointed at the squad now focused on him.

"I'm just going to see what is going on," he answered, slipping out of their grasps and comforting the foals when they realized he was leaving.

"Don't go," Nightmare Moon whimpered, tears already building. He hated to see her like this and did what he believed to be right. He leaned around his seat, kissed her on the head and pet her mane.

"Don't worry babies, I'll be right back." He reassured, pointing at the squad again. "Daddy is just going to talk to those nice men and find out what's going on."

"Promise?" Chrysalis said with a stronger demeanor, receiving a kiss as well.

"I promise," he chuckled. "In the meantime, Mommy and Aunty Luna will keep you company."

Celestia cocked her head and pursed her lips at the man, wearing a sarcastic grin on her lips before implying in a curt voice:

"I did not expect things to progress so quickly."

Marcus glared at her. 

"I got dragged into this mess Discord made, so yeah, you're mommy."

Celestia sighed and retained her smile. "Why am I not surprised? It's almost as if you're trying to make it so our relationship will be forever."

Marcus grinned right back at her and nodded. "Maybe that's my motive," he implied, shocking her and Luna a little. "What, did you think I wanted a short term relationship of you being here from time to time?"

She had no response, and watched him leave the vehicle as he added in a smug tone:

"I told you I want to be with you, and I meant it for as long as I live."

Marcus left both mares stunned and pushed forward to push through the snow, his grin as wide as it can be whilst looking back to the blushing princess staring down at the floor. He got her right where it struck her most, telling her the truth of his desires definitely hit a nerve he suspected to be there, but he hadn't expected it to have such results. Walking through the snow, his smile became as warm as his thoughts about spending the rest of his life with her. A life that is impossible—that much he was aware, but it did not mean he couldn't dream a little.

It tickled him to think what life would be like to have Celestia as a loving wife and mother. 

"Just a fantasy, but a good one."

He did not want to stray from his fantasies or stay away any longer than he has to when the foals were uneasy. He approached the first guard that stepped forward with his weapon holstered at the order of his leading officer. His walk was anything but silent with the hydraulics powering the exoskeleton hissing with every step he took. He stood around seven feet tall with a custom fire-crop paint job done to hide the history his armor had. Marcus was quite impressed that someone could do so well, but this was not the time to be admiring someone's art. Their confrontation started with silence and eyes locked, neither speaking a word whilst the commanding officers stepped to the side and extended his bare hand after removing a glove.

"Marcus," the commanding officer said through his mask, his voice smooth and deeply russian. His hand was taken in handshake, and the retired runner smiled at him.

"Chief Markov," Marcus replied, releasing the handshake but keeping his eyes on the colorful officer still staring down at him. "It's been quite some time since I've seen you. Still giving the recruits some hell?"

Chief Markov, the head officer of the academy and highest ranking squad leader in Sanctuary, a real soldier behind the walls and one of the greatest to be had. Marcus had serious admiration for the elderly brute coming to their city after his wiped out by the infected, and let's not forget that he had the best damn vodka in the entire world. He was a good to Marcus and a great friend to him, probably to only friend that understood him and his reasons for retiring from the business. They were like two peas in a pod as teacher and student, but both of them knew that a runner of Marcus' character could never compare to a brute like Chief. That's why he admired him so much, for his incredible prowess and skill when going to battle.

"Got a new one right here," Chief said as he pat the soldier on his back. The curiosity got to Marcus. He raised an eyebrow at the silent newbie. "His first time patrolling the city, but things got a little interesting during our drive."

"Gotta be careful with those supplies. Name's Marcus by the way," Marcus said, extending a welcoming handshake to the officer until the continuing silence went on. Having no sense of this man being friendly, Marcus turned his head to Chief and nodded, which made the new recruit regret his actions.

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Chief spat, and then cursed in his native language whilst punching the soldier's helmet with his power glove. It definitely rung the guy's bell. "THE NEXT TIME SOMEONE GREETS YOU, YOU DO THE SAME. IF YOU DON'T, THEN I WILL HAVE YOU DOING TOILET DUTY AT WALMART FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAYS!"

"Sorry, did I come at a bad time?" Marcus asked cautiously, moving back a few steps as the new recruit was ordered to go sit in the cargo truck as well as think about showing some respect to his superiors. Markov stopped his yelling at the humiliated soldier and looked back to him, adorning a creepy grin to hide the rage that was just expressed.

"Sorry about that, you know how new recruits can be when they are in armor—think they're big and tough."

"I used to be the same way when I was in the academy. I remember being the same as him when I got my first armor set and started patrolling the city." Marcus finished, applying a hand to Chief's shoulder before having a gander at the cargo that was somehow in a ditch.

"Yes, but I straightened you out," Chief guffawed, putting his hand on the young man's shoulder in return. "I beat the stupid out of you and made you one of the best."

"People say you can't fix stupid, but if anybody can, it's you." He commented, getting another hardy laugh out of the russian and a harsh pat to the back. 

"It's good to see you again my friend, but I have to ask," Chief pointed out to the pair of women approaching from Marcus' truck; at least they appeared to be women in his eyes. As for Marcus, his breath was caught in his throat. "Who are those two lovely ladies coming towards us?"

Oh shit. . .

"Marcus," Celestia said calmly, but he could see the neediness in her eyes, as well as Luna's. "We need to get going. The. . .kids are getting fussy and need to have a nap when we return to the house."

"Agreed," Luna nodded, appearing to be a slightly thinner woman compared to Celestia yet with bust that made Markov straighten himself a little. "They refuse to settle unless you are in the truck with them."

"Kids?" Markov questioned for a moment, but the lightbulb came on and he put his young friend in a headlock. "Marcus, you young son of a bitch! When were you going to tell me you had kids! I should make you run ten miles for not telling me!"

"Kind of been. . . busy," Marcus grunted as he waved his hand at the mares to stop them from attacking the russian. They hadn't realized it was something humans do to one another and grew worried as Chief continued to tighten his grip. "Chief. . . let go. . . can't breathe."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Chief said, releasing the man, who was immediately hugged by both alicorns very protectively. The happy attitude of Chief Markov was now ten-fold and Marcus was fearing what he would do. He was well-acquainted with the russian having tendencies of celebration and hoped that—

"Are these two your women?" Chief asked with a cocked eyebrow. Marcus did not get the chance to respond, as it was already done by Celestia and Luna snapping their gazes at the bearded russian and telling him "YES" with proud voices.

Marcus could only slap his forehead and mutter: "That's what I wanted to avoid. . ."

"Marcus, you skinny bastard!" Chief laughed, confusing the royal sisters. "Not just one, but two beautiful women and children of your own. You must tell me your secret, after we celebrate that is!"

"Celebrate?" Marcus, Celestia and Luna said at the same time.

"Yes!" Chief stated. "A celebration for Marcus becoming a man. Tonight we will drink at your place, but first—" He proceeded to approaching the truck, making the three fear the man. "I must say hello to the children. They MUST meet their Uncle Markov!"

"I don't think that's a good idea Chief!" Marcus sputtered, rushing to the truck to stop the man before their secret was discovered. He was too late and fearing for everyone's lives in the middle of seeing Markov stop dead in his tracks after seeing his old teacher stare at the foals.

"Greetings little ones, I am your Uncle Markov." Chief said as friendly as he could. Thankfully the illusion was still working. "I see you have colorful hair as well."

"Please don't find out," Marcus prayed, having the comfort of both princesses as they did the same.

"Why do you have so much fur on your face?" Chrysalis asked through the window, tugging on the facial hair and trying to pull it off. Chief simply pulled away and laughed before turning back to his extremely nervous friend.

"You have three children, which means you have been very busy." The russian brute implied with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Yeah, sorry. Being a dad takes up my time." Marcus conceded. Chief rolled his eyes and pat him on the back again, this time knocking the wind out of him, their difference in strength being very obvious to the alicorn sisters.

"It's good to see you Marcus, but time will not stop us." 

"Uhh. . . sure. . ."

"And now that I know there are little ones I will be making many visits—starting tonight."

"WHAT!?" Marcus screamed. Chief nodded and proceeded to walk away, having to return to his work before things got out of hand, though he clearly knew it was just a job to kill his boredom for today. Plus he ran out of vodka to drink back at his room and needed a little extra cash.

"See you tonight. And with good liquor!"

And with that, Marcus was left confused and astonished of his old teacher whilst returning to the task at hand. Having no idea what to do or what to say, he got back in his truck and waited for everyone to be buckled in before taking off with Chief waving as they disappeared around a snow drift that covered most of the highway.

"I like him." Luna admitted. "He is a very positive human."

"You only like that man for the fact that he acknowledged you as a lover to Marcus!" Celestia spat, clinging to the quiet man while her sister spat raspberries at her.

"We gotta get the dogs and get back home," he said aloud. "If Markov finds out that I have talking ponies in my house, he's going to flip his shit."

"Who was he anyway?" Celestia asked, staring into the mirror to see her sister pouting in the backseat again. "He was very friendly with you, and somewhat aggressive."

"He was my old teacher at the academy," Marcus sighed. 

"What did he teach you?" Luna piped up, curious as all can be until Marcus responded with a low tone in his voice.

"How to kill the infected."